Islam as a faith upholds morality and chastity to great extents. This is enforced in many aspects of their way of living including dressing. There are specific rules guiding the way both Muslim men and women should dress and carry themselves about. Cross dressing is not acceptable in the Islamic faith. Imitation of the opposite gender in terms of way of life and dressing is prohibited, that is, women are not allowed to wear men’s clothing and men too are not allowed to wear women’s clothing.

For men, they should fully cover their ‘awrah’ (from his navel down to the knees) and their clothing should be loose enough such that their ‘awrah is not described by it. Again the clothing should be thick enough not describe the skin color or the part to be covered (awrah).The clothes should not be designed in a way that it attracts attention. The clothes should not exude fame, vanity or pride and nor resemble that of women or non believers. Silk, gold or effimates should be avoided in men’s clothing too.

Women on their part should not wear any clothe that imitates the men’s clothing such as shirts and ties. Their clothing shouldn’t be transparent and tight fitting to the extent it outlines their body figures. Their clothes should aim at covering their entire bodies apart from the face and hands. Their head, bosom and neck should be covered with a khimar. A jilbab is prescribed for them to enshroud their entire body and cover any open spots. The above measures are prescribed so as to eliminate the attraction of men to several aspects the women body that evokes sexual emotions in men.

The Qur’an says (24) 30-31, “And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons, their husbands’ sons, their brothers or their brothers’ sons, or their sisters’ sons, or their women, or the slaves whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex; and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And o you believers! Turn all toward Allah that you may attain bliss.”

The rules of dressing in Islamic faith for both women and men must always be adhered to during salah or Islamic prayers even if there is no member of the opposite faith present or when a Muslim is praying alone. Just like the women folk in Islamic faith are forbidden from wearing masculine clothes, the Muslim men are also forbidden by the Islamic dressing code from wearing feminine clothing.

Present day Muslim women are now becoming more aware of their moral values and religious teachings, thus turning themselves towards their religion. This has resulted in numerous women in covering themselves up. This dress code depicts the modesty and simplicity every Muslim woman possesses. This dress code is known as the hijab, which implies that all Muslim women cover themselves up while going out. And they should cover themselves in such a manner that only their face and hands are visible. Rest of the body should be fully covered.

As numerous women have turned towards covering themselves, it is becoming more of a trend now. It has considerably gained popularity amongst the Muslim women. Therefore, this dress is now seen in many styles, colors and designs. One thing we need to keep in mind is hijab is not only a head scarf or head gear to simply hide your hair and neck. Though these two parts are also to be covered when you wear this dress, but it is more of a complete body dress which allows you to cover up fully.

As more women now cover themselves, you can find a verity of designs and styles. Many hijabs have embroidery on them. They are adorned with beads, embroidery, lining of different colors, outlines and many more. But if you are in search for the more traditional ones, then you can buy those in plains. Same way, the more traditional colors included blacks and browns. But today, it’s not the same. You will find a verity of colors to choose from, so many colors that you will be dazzled.

There are numerous styles now available, and in different clothing material. Mostly it is found in silk clothing. All these designs not only complement your looks, but also enhance your entire outlook and add an element of elegance to your personality. From the very traditional ones for old ladies to the very classy and trendy ones for the young college or office-going girls, you will find an unlimited verity. So there’s no need for you to compromise with fashion because of your dress code that your religion asks you to wear. You can bring some style to your new outlook with the many designs that are now available.

Due to the increased demand in hijabs, many fashion designers have now responded to it by coming up with designs that not only are stylish, yet they complement the Islamic dress codes. Not only that, they are now made with material to complement different parts of the world and the climate of that particular region or place. As Muslim dressing is largely influenced by their surrounding environment, climate, culture, traditions and values. So as to show the true identity the Muslims of this world hold.

The practically and need associated with fashion trends changing with seasonal change has become lost in the chaos of consumerism. Either that, or the process of deciding what is and what isn’t appropriate for cold weather, has become very complex for the human species. A decade ago, clothes suitable for cold weather would hit all major stores before we actually transitioned to cold weather. The rush by stores to have all new-season clothing ready for customers was accompanied by rampant advertising to remind people that their wardrobes required changing, once again. However, consumerism’s push a side, clothes were, to a large part, appropriate for the weather change.

In 2011 however, and with winter that just passed, we’ve “progressed” to a new era in fashion. Clothes no longer clothe, with women being the primary target. Advertisements mock human intelligence with models wearing coats without pants, jumpers with shorts. One Supre ad on a bus read “jeggings” with the picture of a girl in only jean-leggings, her arms across her bare chest.

Tops and dresses have random patches of fabric missing in any number of areas. To clothe is to cover, so what are we to call these new apparels?  Modesty and morality aside, what practical purpose is such clothes serving, if not to keep one warm? Importantly, that clothes are progressively more and more revealing says what about the people of prior generations? That they were unfashionable, backward, covered unnecessarily? Or maybe the human species have evolved and we now have thicker skin.

Whilst our society, through TV, magazines and other forms of media glamorise women who reveal – the more the better – the same courtesy is not given to women who choose to cover up, such as Muslim women.

On the spectrum of disapproval that Muslim women receive, they are judged for choosing to cover up, are told they are repressed, and at times are recipient to open hostility. Furthermore, they have no say about those women who invade their social space with clothes that leave little to the imagination. Both Muslim and non-Muslim women have told me they are made to feel uncomfortable by women who dress inappropriately. However, our society does not recognise this objection.

Not only are Muslim women to remain silent about the unfortunate way many women dress, they are made to swallow negative comments about the way they dress. Why do we, preachers of freedom and democracy, have such double standards?

We are bombarded with the message to be fashion-conscious. However, being too fashion-conscious can come at the cost of one’s ability to think. We’re taught to lose sight of the fact that we’re more than mere animals, which live by their basic drives for survival, food, water, shelter, sleep and procreation. That we have free-will and the ability to make choices.

With this, we also lose sight of the bigger picture behind consumerism, such as materialism, capitalism and secularism, which make up the impetus behind the fashion industry. Materialism teaches us to be focused on the material, on the here-and-now. “We only live once”, we’re told. Capitalism pushes us to continue to consume, regardless of our actual need, “would you like to upsize your meal?” We’re asked. Secularism teaches us to separate religious ideology from our daily lives. “Who needs religion when we have science and technology?” We’re constantly reminded.

At a time when we’re apparently at the peak of technology and science, the fashion industry is not meeting its simple obligation of clothing women. At a basic level, being fashionable is costing women their comfort and warmth in cold weather. At a higher level, it’s stripping women of their rights for dignity and respect as individuals, as members of society rather than as sex objects or a means for trade. If lack of clothing was positively correlated with level of progress and superiority, animals should be at the top of the hierarchy.

However, there is hope for us. Fortunately and thankfully, we’re neither born stupid nor meant to be stupid. So let us put our brains to use. Let us question rather than accept blindly. Let us lead rather than follow. Let us take the power that we as individuals of a democratic society have and work towards positive change, for the good of ourselves and our fellow citizens.

Source: MuslimVillage.com