Women's Jewelry and Western Style Clothing

19-5-2004 | IslamWeb

Question:

Is it permissible for women to wear fake rings is silver-plated, etc. and are these items called the jewelry of hell? Is it allowed in Islam for women to wear western style clothing in the home and under the Abaaya?
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 sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

If these non-original jewelry items are not made of iron and bronze, then it is permissible for a woman to wear them and they are not called jewelry of hell.

However, if these jewels are made of iron (only) or bronze (only), then the opinion of the majority of scholars is that they are dislikeable to wear. Some of them (scholars) forbade them, and some others said that they are permissible to wear. Therefore, it would be more appropriate to avoid wearing them.

As regards naming this jewelry ‘the jewelry of hell,’ the reason for this might be what was mentioned in the Hadeeth reported by An-Nisaa-i from Abdullah ibn Buraydah may Allaah be pleased with him that his father said, “A man came to the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) wearing a ring made of iron. The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) told him: “How come that you are wearing jewelry of the people of hell; so, the man threw it away. Then another time he came to him wearing a ring made of yellow bronze and the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) told him: “How come that I find in you a smell of idols”; then the man threw it away….”

So, in this Hadeeth the ring made of iron is called the jewelry of the people of hell.

With regard to women wearing western clothes, it should not be men’s clothes. Al-Bukhaari reported that Ibn’ Abbas may Allaah be pleased with him narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “Cursed are men who imitate women, and women who imitate men.”

If the dress is an adornment in itself, then the woman should not wear this dress even if it covers the whole of her body in the presence of non-Mahram (marriageable) men. She can wear it as mentioned in the question.

A non-Mahram man is any person other than the husband, or the Mahram by family relationship, marriage or suckling.

Allah knows best.

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