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Fatwa CenterFemale Student Wants to Specialize in Surgery But Work Requires Wearing Pants
Question
I am a muslim woman and also medical student in non Islamic country. I was considering to specialize in surgery department and I want to know if this goes against my religion...why I said this is that in surgery, as you know the dressing code is pants for both sex. Is there any specific fetawa that allow me to wear trousers in such case or do I have to change my plan of specializing on surgery? Jezakumullahu kheyren
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
If you wear a long shirt over the trousers that properly covers your body and reaches down to the knee or below it, then it is permissible. But if you wear a short shirt or any other item of clothing that does not cover the ‘Awrah, then it is impermissible. The decision issued by the Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America (AMJA) regarding wearing trousers for women states the following: “It is not permissible to wear trousers and a short shirt over them, because the trousers would outline the size of the bones and reveal the details of the major ‘Awrah. However, it is permissible for a woman to wear trousers if she wears clothes over them that cover her body properly and reach down to the knees or below them, like the traditional dress in the Indian subcontinent, as long as it meets the aforementioned guidelines. It is also permissible with greater reason for a woman to wear a garment that reaches down to the knees over a skirt. The conditions of the Islamic Hijaab are hardly met when wearing the types of trousers that are common nowadays. Therefore, women should be mindful of fulfilling the Sharee‘ah-stipulated conditions pertaining to wearing trousers.” [End of quote]
If you are unable to wear an outfit that complies with the Islamic dress code were you to specialize in surgery, then choose another specialty where you can observe the due conditions of the Islamic dress code.
Allah Knows best.
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