Marrying a woman who imitates men by wearing trousers

9-3-2011 | IslamWeb

Question:

As-salaamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh.
What is the Sharee‘ah (Islamic law) ruling on marrying a woman who imitates men by wearing trousers or any other such thing?

---

Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

 

If one intends to marry, his first objective should be to choose a religious woman who fears Allaah The Almighty, and observes His commands in her life, clothing and worship.

It is narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah that he said: The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa salam, said: "A woman is married for four (characteristics): her wealth, her lineage, her beauty and her religion;  so win the religious woman lest you should lose (good)." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Therefore, it is incumbent not to marry a woman who imitates men in her gait, way of dressing, way of speaking, and frequency of going out, unless the husband is able, by way of giving advice and instruction, to change the life of his wife, and return her to the right path. In this respect, it is narrated on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbaas that he said, "The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa salam, cursed men who imitate women and women who imitate men." [Al-Bukhari]

However, here the questioner might be asked why the wife would put on trousers, and whether she does this in order to go out and display herself in front of men and women. Being so, she is worthy of the curse and commits an unlawful deed.

But should she wear it in order to be adorned  for her husband at home, there is no fault on her for that, due to the general significance of the permission for the woman to adorn herself for her husband. It is well-known that the woman has the right to wear clothes that she likes to adorn herself with for her husband,  provided that she does not do so by way of imitating (men or disbelieving women).

Allaah Knows best.