Condition Seven: The clothing must not resemble that of non-Muslim women.

It is a settled ruling of the Sacred Law that Muslims—men and women alike—are not permitted to imitate unbelievers, whether in their acts of worship, their festivals, or the distinctive styles of dress that belong to them. This is a weighty principle of the Islamic sharīʿa, yet, regrettably, many Muslims today have abandoned it—even some who concern themselves with religious matters and call others to the faith—either out of ignorance of their religion, in obedience to their own desires, or through being swept along by the habits of the present age and the customs of a godless Europe. This has been among the causes of the Muslims’ humiliation, weakness, and the domination and colonization they have suffered: “Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change what is within themselves” [al-Raʿd 13:11]—if only they understood.

It should be noted that the proofs establishing this important rule are numerous in both the Qur’an and the Sunnah. Although the Qur’anic evidence is expressed in general terms, the Sunnah elucidates and details it, as is always its function.

Among the relevant verses is His statement, Most High, in [al-Jāthiyah 45:16-18]:

1- “Indeed, We gave the Children of Israel the Scripture, authority, and prophethood, and We provided them with…”