Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

 

Neck Tie is by all means a symbol / commemorative of the belief of Christianity that Hazrat Eessa was hanged to death. There seems be no reason of it becoming a part of dress as it neither saves human being from cold or hot. Whatever safety from cold is derived is due to closing of shirt`s top button not the tie itself. No item / part of practiced prominent dresses in the world adopted by any region / ationality is useless. It has its utility either against whether conditions or for an anticipated opportunity during the span of wearing. As per perception concluded above, Neck - Tie has no utility as dress because its origin relates, to the belief of a particular school and they are dominating, influential & in majority as well. Why Muslim scholars have not been able to declare it as UNISLAMIC.

 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

 

Answer:

 

Neck tie unislamic

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

The Messenger of Allah (saws) himself, his chaste and noble family, and his noble companions themselves wore the dresses which were worn by the people of their times.  Allah and His Messenger (saws) neither specified nor limited the believers to a particular Islamic dress, but rather gave some conditions which the dress one adorns himself/herself with must be fulfilled:

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 7 Surah Aaraaf verse 26:

26      O ye children of Adam! We have bestowed clothing upon you to cover your shame as well as to be an adornment to you; but the clothing of ‘taqwa’ (piety, righteousness, etc.) that is the best.  Such are among the Signs of Allah that they may receive admonition!

 

Provided that the below six conditions of apparel are not violated, there is absolutely no restriction on the type of clothing the believers are allowed to wear in Islam:

1. Clothes worn should not announce arrogance.  
2. The ‘satr’ of the person (man or woman) must be covered in the presence of their non-mehrams.
3. The clothes worn must not be tight so as to display ones figure and curves, 
4. The clothes should not be transparent so as to display one’s satr.
5. The clothes worn must not be an imitation of the pagans or disbelievers.
6. Men should not imitate women in their clothing; nor should women imitate men in their clothing.  

 

Thus if the culture or tradition of the people where one resides is shirts and pants, skirts or blouses, etc. or adornments like caps, or hats, or turbans, or neck-ties, etc.; there is absolutely no harm if a believer adorns himself with his/her prevalent cultural clothes, as long as none of the above conditions of dressing in Shariah Law are violated. 

 

The neck-tie is an accepted adornment for people all over the world and is not associated with a particular people or their religion, nor is it specific to the pagans or disbelievers.  Thus the absolute majority of the scholars are of the opinion that it would be permissible for a believer to wear or adorn himself with a neck-tie, if he wishes to do so.

 

Your Statement: Neck Tie is by all means a symbol / commemorative of the belief of Christianity that Hazrat Eessa was hanged to death

Firstly, the belief (albeit absolutely false) of our Christian brethren is that Prophet Isa (a.s.) was crucified, not hanged! 

 

Although one may deduce that the wearing of the ‘neck-tie’ found its origin in Europe as an adornment to their severe cold weather, it would be absolutely incorrect to say or assume that the ‘neck-tie’ is a symbol/commemoration of the belief of the Christians, or that it resembles the ‘cross’, or that it represents a particular pagan people or belief. 

 

Thus in conclusion, as long as any clothing, or dress, or adornment does not violate any of the above listed conditions of dressing in Shariah, its usage would be permissible for the believers.

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

 

 

Burhan