HIJAB IN THE LIGHT OF THE QUR’AN AND HADITH

~ 11 ~ The sixth conditon of hijab is that a woman’s garments should not resemble those of men. Here is one of the traditions he has quoted to this effect: The Prophet has condemned men who imitate women and women who imitate men.13 From this tradition the writer comes to the conclusion that a garment which in most parts resembles those of men is not permissible for women, even if it covers her adequately.14 The seventh rule of hijab is that it should not resemble that worn by non-believers. Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani says that any similarity to non-believers must be avoided, in matters of worship, festivals and dress.15 The Qur’an states this briefly, but the sunnah provides the detail. One of the verses of the Qur’an on which he bases this argument states that it is “so that they may not be like those who were given the scriptures before this...”16 He quotes Ibn Taymiyya and Ibn Kathir who construe this verse as meaning that imitation of non-believers is not allowed in Islam.