Q: I am a Muslimah who wears a long robe like abaya when I go out in public. Recently I have been thinking of wearing a shalwar qamees when I go out in public. The reason I choose to wear it is because it is easier and comfortable than the one I wear. With the abaya, I sometimes slip and fall, but the way I choose to wear the shalwar is different. I’m going to wear it in the way Islam has prescribed for us. It will be a full sleeved loose kurta upto the knee and a loose denim along with the hijab properly wrapped covering my head and chest.
Is this kind of attire allowed? Is it a sin on me for changing my dress from the abaya to a shalwar?
A: In principle, a woman should be living in the confines of her home. If she ventures out of the house she should venture with her entire body covered in unattractive clothing.
And Allah Ta’ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
Answered by:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)