To deal in women''s clothing

Q: Please, Your Eminence, advise us concerning the ruling on selling tight trousers worn by women, such as jeans and stretch, outfits that consist of trousers and blouses, high-heel shoes, hair dyes of different colors, especially those for women, transparent clothes known as chiffon, half-sleeve women dresses, and short dresses and skirts.

A: Anything that is probably used in an unlawful way is Haram (prohibited) to make, import, sell and promote among Muslims. This includes what many women wear nowadays, may Allah guide them to what is right, of transparent, tight and revealing clothes. This leads to showing their charms and revealing the contours of their bodies in front of non-Mahrams (not a spouse or a permanently unmarriageable relative). Shaykh-ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah be merciful to him) said, "It is impermissible to sell any clothes that are probably used in committing a sin. In this case, it is impermissible to sell or make them. Thus, it is Makruh (disliked) to sell bread and meat to those who drink Khamr (intoxicants) with it; it is also Makruh to sell basil to those who use it in drinking Khamr. This applies to anything that is originally Mubah (permissible) (Part No. 13; Page No. 110) which is known to be used in committing a sin."Every Muslim trader should fear Allah as He should be feared and advise his Muslim brothers. He should sell only what is beneficial to them, and leave what is harmful to them. Lawful sustenance suffices instead of unlawful sustenance. Allah says, And whosoever fears Allâh and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. This advice is the ultimate form of Iman (Faith). Allah also says, The believers, men and women, are Auliyâ’ (helpers, supporters, friends, protectors) of one another; they enjoin (on the people) Al-Ma‘rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm orders one to do), and forbid (people) from Al-Munkar (i.e. polytheism and disbelief of all kinds, and all that Islâm has forbidden) The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Religion is based on advising one another." Upon this we said, "For whom?" He replied, "For Allah, His Book, His Messenger and for the leaders and the general Muslims." (Related by Muslim in his Sahih (authentic) Book of Hadith). Jarir ibn `Abdullah Al-Bajaly (may Allah be pleased with him) said, I gave the pledge of allegiance to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) on offering Salah (Prayer), paying Zakah and giving advice to every Muslim. (Its authenticity is agreed upon by Al-Bukhari and Muslim). The intention of Shaykh-ul-Islam in his previously mentioned sentence (Part No. 13; Page No. 111) is that it is Makruh to the extent of prohibition. This is also known from other Fatwas (legal opinions issued by a qualified Muslim scholar) that he issued in other contexts. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.