QUESTION:
Salamu Alaikum Ya Sheikh. There are clothes which are of a design called “cloche”. Some of them are for women and are very loose, and their sleeves are also long and wide, as in the case of dira‘s and jilbaabs. Is it permissible for women to wear them? Also, is it permissible to wear tight sleeves among other women and mahrams?
Suwaiba Nasir, Kaduna
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ANSWER:
Amin Alaikum Salaam Wa Rahamatullah. It is permissible for a woman to wear whatever clothes she wants so long as that is not imitating men or kaafir women, or uncovering the ‘awrah in front of those before whom it must be covered. Covering the awrah can only be achieved by wearing concealing garments that do not show what is underneath them, and which are wide and do not show the size of her frame. See the answer to question no. 6991 and 14302.
Secondly: The ‘awrah of a woman in front of her mahrams such as her father, brother, son and nephew, is her entire body except what usually appears, such as her face, hair, neck, forearms and feet. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“…and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent (like both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer palms of hands or one eye or dress like veil, gloves, headcover, apron), and to draw their veils all over Juyoobihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms) and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husband’s fathers, or their sons, or their husband’s sons, or their brothers or their brother’s sons, or their sister’s sons, or their (Muslim) women (i.e. their sisters in Islam), or the (female) slaves whom their right hands possess…”[al-Nisa’ 4:31]
Based on that, it is permissible for her to wear tight sleeves from the hands to the elbows, because that is not part of the ‘awrah before mahrams, so long as there is no cause for suspicion or temptation.
There is also nothing wrong with wearing these kinds of sleeves in front of women, because Allah says in the verse quoted above “or their (Muslim) women (i.e. their sisters in Islam)”, as that is not part of the ‘awrah in front of other women.
And Allah knows best.
