Fatwa ID: 03400

Answered by: Mufti Eunus Ali​

Question

I found in a Hadith in Muslim Book 24, Hadith no. 5176 that (Ma'fum) Rasulullah (PBUH) forbidden to use silk, yellow clothes and read Quran while Ruku. Is using yellow clothes really prohibited?

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم

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

Answer

The wording of the word referred to in the question is as follows:

عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَهَى عَنْ لُبْسِ الْقَسِّيِّ وَالْمُعَصْفَرِ وَعَنْ تَخَتُّمِ الذَّهَبِ وَعَنْ قِرَاءَةِ الْقُرْآنِ فِي الرُّكُوعِ ‏

'Ali b. Abu Talib reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) forbade wearing of silk and clothing dyed in safflower, and the gold ring, and the reciting of the Qur'an in the ruku' (state of kneeling in prayer). (Saheeh Muslim)

The word used in the Hadith is ‘mua’sfar’ which is commonly translated as ‘yellow’ however this is an incomplete translation. Clothing dyed in safflower would be yellow and therefore this has become a common translation. The above translation would be a better translation as it provides a more complete meaning.

Furthermore, this type of clothing has been discussed by Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani in ‘Taklimah Fathu lMulhim’ in which he has explained that according to the Hanafi School this is Makrooh Tahrimi for the men and not for the womenfolk. He further stated in the discussion that according to the Shafi and Maliki opinion it is permissible, whilst in another narration, it is said that Imam Malik considered it to be permissible within the homes and prohibited in gatherings and the markets.

Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) ends the discussion by saying that the Ahadith of this chapter is explicit in prohibiting these types of clothing and therefore the prohibition would be more preferable.[1]

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Mufti Eunus Ali

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham