Question Summary:
Is it from the Sunnah to wear the clothes of one’s people?

Question Detail:

1. Can you explain the statements from scholars, the likes of Ibn Qayyim and Ibn Jareer, which dictate that the clothes of the time and place should be considered as the Sunnah, aslong as they fall within the boundaries of Shariah. Ibn Jareer says, " مراعاة زي الزمان من المروءة ما لم يكن إثما و في مخالفة الزي ضرب من الشهرة" 

Answer :

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

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

Hereunder is the statement of Ibnu Jarir Tabari Rahimahullah as quoted by Hafiz Ibnu Hajar Rahimahullah:

وَقَالَ الطَّبَرِيُّ بَعْدَ أَنْ ذَكَرَ غَالِبَ هَذِهِ الْأَقْوَالِ الَّذِي أَرَاهُ جَوَازُ لُبْسِ الثِّيَابِ الْمُصَبَّغَةِ بِكُلِّ لَوْنٍ إِلَّا أَنِّي لَا أُحِبُّ لُبْسَ مَا كَانَ مُشْبَعًا بِالْحُمْرَةِ وَلَا لُبْسَ الْأَحْمَرِ مُطْلَقًا ظَاهِرًا فَوْقَ الثِّيَابِ لِكَوْنِهِ لَيْسَ مِنْ لِبَاسِ أَهْلِ الْمُرُوءَةِ فِي زَمَانِنَا فَإِنَّ مُرَاعَاةَ زِيِّ الزَّمَانِ مِنَ الْمُرُوءَةِ مَا لَمْ يَكُنْ إِثْمًا وَفِي مُخَالَفَةِ الزِّيِّ ضَرْبٌ مِنَ الشُّهْرَةِ

Translation: Imam Tabari Rahimahullah said: (after mentioning different statements) “In my opinion, it is permissible to wear colored clothes that is dyed with any color. Except it is preferable not to wear that which is saturated with red, nor to wear red (colored clothing) for the outer garment in any case, because this is not from the clothing of the people of reverence in our times. Indeed, taking consideration of the clothing of (ones) era is from the virility (of a person) as long as it is not sinful, and being in-different in one’s attire can causes distinction. (Fathul Bari 10/396)

It is clear from the above, there is no mention of clothes of the time being Sunnah.

At most, such clothes are permissible including the Shalwar and Qamees.

Sunnah clothing refers to what Rasulullah Sallallahu Alihi Wasallam advised us to wear. Refer to this link for more details.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Tareque Ahmed

Student Darul Iftaa

New York, USA

Checked and Approved by,

Mufti Ebrahim Desai.