Is It Permissible To Wear A Sari?

Question:

Is it permissible to wear a lehenga/skirt or a Sari at a wedding?

Answer:

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

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

“A sari or saree[note 1] (Urdu: ساڑی) is a strip of unstitched cloth, worn by females, ranging from four to nine yards in length that is draped over the body in various styles which is native to the Indian Subcontinent”[1]

A sari is also referred to as “lahaṅgā or lehenga in the north; langa, pavada, or pavadai in the south; chaniyo, parkar, ghaghra, or ghagaro in the west; and shaya in eastern India.”[2]

Islam emphasizes that a woman’s figure and shape ought to be concealed and unrevealed. By wearing a sari, a woman would be revealing an exposing the figure and shape of her body. This type of clothing has been prohibited in the Shari’ah.Furthermore, Sari dress is specific with the kuffaar. Emulation of kuffaar practices  is not permissible. It is therefore not permissible for a woman to wear a Sari/Lehenga in all conditions.

Rasullullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said:

حدثني زهير بن حرب. حدثنا جرير عن سهيل، عن أبيه، عن أبي هريرة. قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم (صنفان من أهل النار لم أرهما. قوم معهم سياط كأذناب البقر يضربون بها الناس. ونساء كاسيات عاريات، مميلات مائلات، رؤسهن كأسنمة البخت المائلة، لا يدخلن الجنة، ولا  يجدن ريحها. وإن ريحها ليوجد من مسيرة كذا وكذا).

Abu Hurairah radiyallahu anhu reported Allah’s messenger sallallahu alaihe wasallam having said this, “Their are two groups of people destined for the fire of hell. First, those officials who would carry with them whips looking like the tails of cows and they would use them for whipping people. Secondly, those women who would be naked despite being apparently clothed. They themselves will be inclined towards men and lure them as well. Their heads will be tall like the humps of Bukhti camels, bent onto one side (their hair will be styled in a bun). They will neither enter Paradise nor would they even smell the fragrance of Paradise which can be detected from great distances.” (Saheeh Muslim, Hadeeth # 2128)

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.