With diverse cultural customs and practices, our mode of dressing mostly differs. We live in a time where our appearance shows up in our identity and personalities, and in the fashion era where styles are based on the trends. However, it disagrees with what was depicted in Islam. Modest dressing is a part of Islamic culture referred to as the dressing that follows basic Islamic principles, The way we dress as Muslims holds great significance as it displays our commitment to Islamic values and as a uniqueness of our identities.
The concept of modest dressing entails how a Muslim should dress in public. Islam does not support any local custom and tradition especially clothing that contradicts its principles of modesty, and it should be merely harmless and beneficial to us. Our dress is not necessarily Arabic. The Quran verses provide general guidelines regarding Modest dressing without specifying the dress code for all Muslims.
We were encouraged to cover our “awrah” which means the parts that should be covered in public, for men, it includes from the navel to the knee while for women, it includes the entire body except for the face and hands. It is recommended for us to wear loose-fitting and non-transparent garments which do conceal the body’s shape. Also to avoid showing off beauty and adornments, especially among women, and silk or gold are forbidden for men. Imitation is not allowed meaning that women should not dress like men likewise men should be far away from women’s dress. Concerning our dress, we should strive to adhere to Islamic principles.
In recent years, there has been an increase in attacks on the mode of Islamic dressing which is labeled as a Cultural threat. The misconception and stereotypes of many societies about Islam had led to an impact on Muslim communities negatively. A muslim who adopts modest attire have faced challenges from discriminatory legislation to verbal and physical assaults, sometimes tagged as a terrorist. One thing that should be known is that dressing as a Muslim does not portray true believers of Islam like fashion models, or perpetrators who camouflage to carry out operation. In some European countries, there have been several attempts to outlaw certain aspects of Islamic dress customs, such as covering the face in public for females.
There should be room open to dialogue on these issues, providing adequate education and awareness-raising campaigns to promote understanding and tolerance of different cultures and religions. Governments can also enact laws that protect the rights of Muslims to be identified in public places.
The truth is that these dress codes are not meant to be oppressive or restrictive for both genders. They minimize immorality and sexual inducement and avoid mingling of the opposite sexes in the societies. Indecent dressing will make us look disrespectful by publicizing our private parts.
Muslims should avoid any clothes that expose the body or else it voids his or her identity. Modesty in Islam encompasses various aspects of life, including outfitting, behaviors, appearance, and interaction with others and to encourage Muslims to avoid anything considered to be distasteful or abominable. Muslim is not only by name or clothing, The true identity of a believer comes from his or her heart through the act of worship.
