Can women wear jeans?

While wearing clothes, the bare minimum covering (Satar in Urdu) should be kept in mind.  Wearing such  clothing through which those parts of the body, covering whom is compulsory, become visible is not correct, as the very objective of clothing that these parts of the body should be covered and the human body should look beautiful. 

 

O mankind! Surely We have sent down for you (such a) clothing that hides your private parts and adds (to your) aesthetic value. And (in addition to your outward clothes We have also provided you an inward dress as well and that is) the dress of Allah’s fear (which) is the best. (All these inner and outer attires) are the Signs of Allah so that they may take advice.  (Surah A’araaf, 7:26)

 

Islam permits wearing clothes of different designs and types.  It has only given some guidelines for this.  The garment should cover the body adequately enough, there should be no indecency/nudity in it and the lower garment of men should not fall below the ankle.  Any garment, be it jeans or of any other type, should not be so tight that the body is outlined.  Wearing these kind of clothes is Makruh.  Thus, avoiding tight-fitting clothes is better.

 

Thus, be it a man or a woman, they should use such clothes which covers their Satar properly.  For a man, the area from below the navel to below the knees is Satar and for a woman, excepting her face and hands, everything is Satar.  In light of this, if men use a garment through which, excepting Satar other parts of the body are visible, then there is no problem.  However, for a woman, as the whole body is Satar, she cannot wear garments, which reveal any part of her body. 

 

Wearing Jeans for women

 

Allah has created women different from men.  They are by nature delicate and graceful.  Their presence gives solace to men.  Men have been made strong, sturdy and hardy.

 

In light of this natural difference, it is but natural that there should be difference in their clothing, etc.

 

In Islamic Law, men have been prohibited from imitating and resembling women and vice versa.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has cursed those women who imitate men.  There is a Hadith in Sunan Abu Dawood:

 

Translation: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Ibn Abi Mulaika (May Allah be well pleased with him) that Hadhrat Aisha Siddiqua (May Allah be well pleased with her) was told that a lady wears men’s shoes.  She said:  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has cursed women who imitate men.  (Sunan Abu Dawood, Hadith No. 4101)

 

As given in Mirqaat Ul Mafateeh, Vol. 4, Pg. No. 374.

 

Thus it is not allowed for women to wear male clothing like jeans, etc.