Question
Reference number: 319031 | Clothing and Accessories Legislations | Oct. 20, 2022
What is the ruing on wearing a half sleeve in nursing work as my wife is a nurse in a foreign country?
Answer
Praise Be to Allah and Peace Be Upon His Messenger.
Referring to your question, Islam allows the Muslim woman to work under certain restrictions. Some of which are that the work should not make her neglect her religious duties, her children, or her parental duties. She should not do the prohibited deeds; nor should she take her hijab off. Rather, she should observe her hijab wherever she goes.
The Islamic modest clothes for a woman is what covers, not wrap, her whole body. Allah says: “O prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies. That will be better, that they will be known (as free respectful women) so as not to be annoyed. And Allah is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” Al-Ahzab: 59”
Thus, the restrictions that women should observe are:
- What women wear should cover the whole body except for her face or palms. Allah says: “And not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent.” An-Nur: 31. Ibn Abbas explains this part “except only that which is apparent” as the face, hands and worn ring
- The dress itself should not be considered as adornment that attracts men’s attention.
- It should be loose so as not to wrap the body to let others able to describe the body, nor should it be too thin to let others see what is below it; it should not be transparent. The prophet said: “There are two types of people who will be punished in Hell, and whom I have not seen: men having whips like the tails of cows, and they will be beating people with them, and women who will be dressed but appear to be naked…” Related by Muslim.
- The dress (or jilbab) should not be perfumed as the Muslim woman is not allowed to go outside being perfumed.
- Women should not wear clothes that make them look like men. The prophet said: “Allah has cursed women who imitate men and men who imitate women.” Sunan Abu Dawood.
- The woman should not wear clothes which are similar to the clothes of disbelievers.
Finally, if your wife is committed to these restrictions, she is allowed to work taking into consideration that she must not ignore her hijab.