Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad
Question:
Please answer my question with examples; I’ve read many answers but still can’t understand the looseness criteria. How loose (minimum) should a woman’s clothing be? What does outline of the body mean? How tight is too tight? How about trousers and thighs?
Answer:
Assalamu alaykum,
Thank you for your question. I am sorry that you are confused about this issue. I pray that you can find some clarity.
`Urf
`Urf is the custom of the locals of your land. Look at the religious women of your area, and that should give you an idea of wearing a proper hijab.
Criteria
The criteria of covering yourself correctly without showing the shape of the body are usually accomplished by an abaya, a long skirt, and long shirt, a shalwar kameez (Pakistani dress), or very wide pants with a long shirt down to the knees. In some cultures, a religious woman will never wear pants outside, even if wide. Other types of clothing are also possible. Modest colors are a factor too, but your `urf will define that better.
Intention
Please know that as long as you have made a sincere intention to cover for the sake of Allah and you are trying your best while meeting the criteria, you should not worry about it at all. It is not possible to give you inches and centimeters, so try not to get so specific; it won’t benefit you. Some people change the way they dress over the years, their hijabs get longer, and their garments get looser, allow yourself to grow and discover. May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafseer, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She recently moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.