Q 1: Recently, women have begun to wear indecent clothes in front of one another, which exposes parts of the body. They want to resemble the non-Muslim women. Their plea that this is permissible is that women's `Awrah (parts of the body that must be covered in public) in front of other women starts from the navel and extends to the knee.

A: A woman should be decent and modest even if no one but women look at her. She should only expose to them what is usually exposed and if there is a need such as wearing clothes that cover the face, the hands and the feet it will be more proper for them and safer against any doubts. (Part No. 17; Page No. 289) It is prohibited for women to resemble the non-Muslim women in their clothing even if it is decent and this applies to short, narrow and transparent clothes. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Anyone who imitates a people is one of them. He (peace be upon him) also said: There are two types of the inmates of Hell whom I did not see: People having flogs like the tails of the ox with them and they would be beating people, and the women who would be dressed but appear to be naked, who would be inclined (to evil) and make their husbands incline towards it. Their heads would be like the humps of the bukht camel, inclined to one side. They will not enter Paradise and they will not smell its odor whereas its odor could be smelt from such and such a distance. (Related by Muslim in his Sahih [authentic] Book of Hadith) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.