Fatwa ID: 06866

Answered by: Maulana Ubaidur Rahman

Question:

Are men allowed to wear red according to the Hanafi ruling?

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

The Prophet (SAW) said,

عَنْ الْبَرَاءِ بْنِ عَازِبٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَرْبُوعًا بَعِيدَ مَا بَيْنَ الْمَنْكِبَيْنِ لَهُ شَعَرٌ يَبْلُغُ شَحْمَةَ أُذُنِهِ رَأَيْتُهُ فِي حُلَّةٍ حَمْرَاءَ لَمْ أَرَ شَيْئًا قَطُّ أَحْسَنَ مِنْهُ[1]

Translation: Al-Bara’ ibn ‘Azib reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was of moderate height, with broad shoulders and hair that reached to his ears. I once saw him wearing a red mantle and I have not seen anyone more handsome than him.

From the above hadeeth, we can see that the Prophet (PBUH) wore red clothing and we can establish that it wasn’t prohibited. However, it is Makruh Tanzihi for men to wear pure red clothing which is undyed. Every other colour may be used and used for dye and adopted as a piece of clothing. However, other instruments of clothing may be used with a red dye like red hats. [5]

Only Allah Knows Best

Written by Maulana Ubaidur Rahman

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah.

Darul Ifta Birmingham

[1] 3551 صحيح البخاري كتاب المناقب باب صفة النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم

[5] Ahsnul Fatawa, page 62, volume 8, online version (Ahsan_ul_Fatawa_Vol_08—www.besturdubooks.wordpress.com.pdf (archive.org)