بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Question:
Our honourable Sheikh, Assalaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakaatuhu
I read what you wrote regarding wearing of the trousers in front of relatives, and that it is not Shariah compliant, however you did not provide an evidence for this...but you said that it is from Tabarruj; and as what we have learnt the meaning of Tabarruj is anything that attracts the attention. However, how a society views Tabarruj differs from one country to another; wearing of the trousers, as I understand, in our private social life among relatives does not attract attention because everyone in the private life wears a long shirt and trousers, so it is not attracting attention because everyone is wearing the same and the society that we live in is what determines its view of the dress, whether it has Tabarruj or not, i.e. it is attracting attention or not, please can you clarify this.
Jazak Allah Khair and May He grant you victory and support of the people of power.
Answer:
Wa Alaikum us Salaam Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakaatuhu
Tabarruj in the language is: when a woman reveals her adornments and beauty to men, In "Lisan Al Arab" it states: "And Tabarruj: Revealing the adornments to foreigners, which is rebuked, but it is acceptable for the husband". In "Qamous Al Muheet" it states: "And She showed Tabarruj: She revealed her adornment for men".
In "Mukhtar As-Sahah" it states: "and "Tabarruj" is when a woman reveals her adornments and beauty to men."... And in "Maqayees Al -Lugha": "Baraja' the letters: Ba, Ra, and Jeem have two origin sources: One means to become apparent, and to show (Al-thuhoor and Al-Borooz), and from it is Tabarruj, which is when a woman reveals her beauty)." What is understood from the word "Izhar" and "Al-thuhoor and Al-Borooz'' that the adornment is attractive and is made apparent to men; and the Shariah meaning is not different from that, Allah (swt) says:
[وَلَا يَضْرِبْنَ بِأَرْجُلِهِنَّ لِيُعْلَمَ مَا يُخْفِينَ مِنْ زِينَتِهِنَّ]
"And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment" [An-Nur: 31]
Therefore a woman must not walk stamping her feet strongly on the ground allowing her anklet to produce a sound that will make a man aware that the woman is wearing jewelry on her ankle under her clothes. All of this means that Tabarruj in the language and Shariah meaning is the adornment that is attracting attention.
Applying this understanding on wearing of the trousers in the private life in front of the non-Mahrim relatives when they visit for the purpose of family ties, when they visit their female relatives at occasions allowed by the Shar’ like during Eid festivals… If the trousers are worn without a long shirt that covers the separation of the the area above the thighs which is defined when wearing the trousers, it will attract attention. When a woman wears trousers and it defines the separation of the area above the thighs she will attract attention; but if the shirt covers this separation above the thighs and others, it will not attract the attention generally unless it is unusual.
It is not necessary to have a text that mentions that wearing of the trousers in the private life in front of non-Mahrim relatives is Tabarruj, that is because the evidences above have defined the reality of Tabarruj, and this applies to the trousers without a shirt that covers the separation of the trousers above the thighs and others, this is why in the answer to the question, the following was mentioned: (Wearing of the trouser is Tabarruj, this is why it is prohibited to appear in front of non-Mahrim relatives when they come for family relations or for Eid greetings while wearing trousers.” End. The answer was regarding wearing the trousers with the short shirt that does not cover the trousers. This answer have confused some sisters, this is why some of them asked for clarification of the topic, so I sent the following answer:
“What is published on the Hizb website about wearing the trousers in the house in front of non-Mahrim relatives is considered as Tabarruj, and it is prohibited to wear it in front of them… this is the case if the trousers were exposed, i.e. trousers with a short shirt that shows the trousers; in this case it is considered as Tabarruj. It is prohibited to wear it in front of non-Mahrim relatives in the house when they visit for family ties like in Eid festivals as an example, but if there was a skirt on top of it that is not attractive and covers it or covers a large part of it…it is then not Tabarruj in her house in front of non-Mahrim when they visit for family ties during the Eid festivals for example…” End.
It is clear from the question that the one who wrote it has not seen this answer.
It is obvious that the answer is regarding in the houses and not the public life, because the dress in the public life is known to have three criteria: to cover the “Awrah”, must not be Tabarruj, and the Shari’ Jilbab must be worn. We have previously provided details of this in other answers.
Your brother,
Ata Bin Khalil Abu Al-Rashtah
22 Safar 1436 AH
14/12/2014 CE