They shall never enter Paradise, nor even smell its fragrance—we seek refuge in Allah. In other words, they will neither enter Paradise nor come anywhere near it, although its fragrance can be detected from a journey of seventy years or more. Yet this woman will not approach Paradise, God protect us, for she has strayed from the straight path: she is clothed yet naked, a mumīlah who lures others and a māʾilah who has deviated herself, and on her head is something that calls to temptation and ostentation.
This is decisive proof that this manner of dress is forbidden, because the threat of being barred from Paradise shows that it is one of the major sins. The same ruling applies to women who imitate men—their imitation is among the grave sins—and likewise to men who imitate women.
Here a question arises that confuses some women and, in fact, many people: a person adopts a practice that constitutes imitation and then says, “I did not intend to imitate.” The answer is that resemblance is an outward form; once it appears, the prohibition of imitation applies, whether or not one meant it. Whenever imitation becomes apparent—of unbelieving women, of immoral and scantily clad women, of men by a woman, or of women by a man—it is forbidden, whether deliberate or unintentional. If done deliberately it is more serious; if unintentional, you must still change whatever causes the resemblance so as to avoid imitation.
The last hadith, the report of Abu Hurayrah recorded by Abu Dawud with a sound chain, states that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade a woman to wear a man’s clothing and a man to wear a woman’s clothing. This supports what we have just said: imitation can occur in dress, gait, appearance, and other matters.
We ask Allah to grant safety to you and to us, and to protect our men and women from temptation and error.
Question and answer: The mumīlūn among men can be even more depraved. Some young men—especially the handsome ones—tilt their clothing and affect a coquettish manner, as though inviting people to themselves. We seek refuge in Allah.