Selling Women’s Clothes That Do Not Fully Cover the ʿAwrah

Question: The questioner asks, what is the ruling on selling women’s clothing that may not fully cover the woman, such as dresses or other garments that expose the arms, or shirts and the like? Is the seller sinful if the woman wears them outside the home or in places where she is not allowed to appear in such clothing? Sometimes the female buyer may also be a non-Muslim.

Summary:

Based on the understanding of the righteous predecessors and Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jamāʿah, selling clothes that do not fully cover the ʿawrah and reveal part of the woman’s body is considered forbidden if the purpose is to facilitate committing sins or temptation. Therefore, the seller must be keen to sell clothes that cover a woman’s body according to what Islam has approved, whether the buyer is Muslim or non-Muslim. We ask Allah to help us do what pleases Him, and to grant us success in reforming ourselves and society.

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate. All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon his family and companions.

The ruling on selling clothing that does not fully cover a woman, or that exposes her ʿawrah, such as dresses or shirts that reveal the arms or parts of the woman’s body, requires careful consideration in light of Islamic teachings and the understanding of the righteous predecessors.

1. Ruling on selling clothing in Islam:

  • Selling clothing in and of itself is not prohibited. The prohibition is related to whether the clothing is used in sin or facilitates men or women in committing sinful acts.
  • Clothing that reveals the ʿawrah, or part of it, whether for men or women, is inappropriate if worn in places where one is seen by non-maḥram individuals.

2. Ruling on selling clothing that does not cover the ʿawrah:

  • If the clothing being sold reveals some part of the ʿawrah or encourages women to appear in an unlawful way in front of non-maḥram men, then selling such clothing is ḥarām. Islamic law mandates that a woman should cover her entire body except for the face and hands in places where she is allowed to be seen. As Allah said in Sūrat al-Nūr:

From the Qur'an:

  • An-Nur: 31
    "And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their chastity, and not to reveal their adornments except what normally appears. Let them draw their veils over their chests, and not reveal their ˹hidden˺ adornments..."

    Selling clothing that shows more than that, or opens the door to corruption, is considered assisting in sin.

From the Sunnah:

  • Sahih Muslim: 1893aNarrated by Abū Masʿūd al-Anṣārī (رضي الله عنه):
    A man came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: My riding beast has been killed, so give me some animal to ride upon. He (the Holy Prophet) said: I have none with me. A man said: Messenger of Allah, I can guide him to one who will provide him with a riding beast. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: One who guides to something good has a reward similar to that of its doer.

3. Ruling on selling to non-Muslim women: • Selling to non-Muslim women does not absolve the seller from religious responsibility, because Islamic teachings apply to all matters that may contribute to the spread of sin or corruption. • Nevertheless, the seller should be careful to offer clothing that covers the ʿawrah and aligns with Islamic manners, even if the woman is not Muslim, as this is a responsibility before Allah. 4. The seller’s sin: • If the seller knows that the woman will use the clothing in a manner displeasing to Allah, such as appearing before non-maḥram men or wearing it in places that go against modesty, then selling such clothing is aiding in sin. • However, if the seller sells the clothing without prior knowledge of the buyer’s intent or where it will be used, and does not intentionally sell clothing that contributes to corruption, then the sin may be less upon him, though he remains responsible for selling something that can lead to sin. 5. Advice: • A Muslim should be keen to sell clothing that meets Islamic conditions, covers the ʿawrah, prevents fitnah, and avoid selling items that lead to disobedience. • The Muslim should strive to adhere to the principle known from the predecessors in preserving chastity and protecting societies from moral corruption, by guiding people to what pleases Allah, whether in dealings with Muslims or others.

And Allah knows best.

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