Women attending Fashion Shows

[ummtaalib]

Question:

I have heard of a function which is called ‘let loose’. In this function there will be a book launch. Only females allowed are allowed .A fashion show will be taking place .The entire objective is for the women to have fun dressing up and leave their hair open etc.

Please explain in view of Quran and Hadith if this is allowed and what advice can you give to our young girls with regards to this function.

 

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

 

Islam is a pure and dynamic religion that provides guidance for all facets of life including modes of worship, business and trade, and our dealings with others whether privately, or publically in social gatherings. Although Shari’ah does not forbid us from having fun and expressing our happiness, it still provides us guidance in expressing such feelings by setting out principles that maintain the standard of Islam.

 

The event in question, accompanied with a fashion show, contains many elements that go against the morals and values Islam attempts to inculcate within us:

 

1) Kibr and Riyā (pride and vanity): The purpose of a fashion show is to show off one’s glamour by becoming eye candy for the audience.[1] Such an act creates pride in the heart and results in a negative impact on one’s īmān. Consider the following hadīth:

 

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: لَا يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ مَنْ كَانَ فِي قَلْبِهِ مِثْقَالُ ذَرَّةٍ مِنْ كِبْرٍ

 

The Holy Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “That person will not enter jannah who has even an atom’s weight of pride in his heart.”[2]

 

2) Loss of Hayā: Allah Ta’ālā has created women with the inherent quality of shame and modesty (i.e. hayā). It is a special quality that signifies the chastity and lofty status of a woman. As a pure religion, Islam also promotes acts of modesty and self respect (i.e. hayā); the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:

 

«إِنَّ لِكُلِّ دِينٍ خُلُقًا، وَإِنَّ خُلُقَ الْإِسْلَامِ الْحَيَاءُ»

 

“Verily in every religion there is morality, the morality of Islam is modesty.”[3]

 

In another hadith, the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) states:

«الْحَيَاءُ مِنَ الْإِيمَانِ، وَالْإِيمَانُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ»

 

“Modesty is part of faith, and faith will be in Paradise.”[4]

 

The event in question attempts to “free” women from this quality by “loosening themselves” in front of other women and internally maligning the standard of a Muslim woman through behaving in a “fun” manner.

 

3) Tashabbuh (imitation): Like any other religion, there are certain values that are unique to Islam itself that make it stand out amongst the rest. It is for this reason the Holy Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) forbade us from sacrificing such values for the sake of imitating others (e.g. through fashion shows) under the facade of “fun” and “amusement”. Consider the following hadīth:

 

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ تَشَبَّهَ بِقَوْمٍ فَهُوَ مِنْهُمْ»

 

The Holy Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “He who imitates a group of people is from amongst them.”[5]

 

4) Lahw: “Lahw” can refer to anything that does not reap any apparent benefit.[6] Although the event in question includes many activities of amusement and fun, it lacks the main essence of any true Islamic gathering, the remembrance of Allah Ta’ālā. A gathering devoid of such is deprived of the blessings of Allah the Almighty and the company of the angels. The Holy Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said:

 

إِنَّ لِلَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى مَلَائِكَةً سَيَّارَةً، فُضُلًا يَتَتَبَّعُونَ مَجَالِسَ الذِّكْرِ، فَإِذَا وَجَدُوا مَجْلِسًا فِيهِ ذِكْرٌ قَعَدُوا مَعَهُمْ، وَحَفَّ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضًا بِأَجْنِحَتِهِمْ، حَتَّى يَمْلَئُوا مَا بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا، فَإِذَا تَفَرَّقُوا عَرَجُوا وَصَعِدُوا إِلَى السَّمَاءِ

 

Allah has mobile (squads) of angels, who have no other work (to attend to but) to follow the assemblies of Dhikr and when they find such assemblies in which there is Dhikr (of Allah) they sit in them and some of them surround the others with their wings till the space between them and the sky of the world is fully covered, and when they disperse (after the assembly of Dhikr is adjourned) they go upward to the heaven.[7]

 

It is our humble advice that the hosts of this event rethink their approach in holding such a gathering and further make an effort to have an event that not only conforms to the ideals and principles of Islam, but also creates an environment that brings about fun and enjoyment while maintaining activities involving the remembrance of Allah Ta’ālā.

 

This includes, but is not limited to recitation of the Quran, a set time for ‘ibādah, lectures[8] about famous Sahabiyyāt, and interactive youth talks that discuss topics relating to the struggles of the young in today’s environment. Insha-Allah, such an effort will not only bring enjoyment for the young, but it will also serve as a tool to boost one’s imān while simultaneously earning the blessings and pleasure of Allah Ta’ālā.

 

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Checked and Approved by,

Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

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