Ethical fashion
Question: I am concerned about wearing ethically made clothing. What should I do?
Answer:
Assalamu alaykum,
Thank you for your question. Ethical Fashion is an umbrella term [used] to describe ethical fashion design, production, retail, and purchasing. It covers various issues such as working conditions, exploitation, fair trade, sustainable production, the environment, and animal welfare.
Worthy of consideration
A Muslim’s desire to wear ethically made clothing is correctly placed, and awareness should be raised about this. Large corporations that abuse their employees overseas should not be supported, and this issue is more worthy of consideration by Muslims than anyone else. Allah does not permit abuse, harm, degradation, exploitation, etc., for monetary gain.
Abuse and exploitation
The Prophet, may Allah bless him and give him peace, said, “And one of you who exploits another is not a believer as long as he is exploiting him, therefore avoid and shun (these evils). [Muslim]
Allah’s Messenger, may Allah bless him and give him peace, said, “Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or he is an oppressed one. People asked, “O Allah’s Messenger! It is all right to help him if he is oppressed, but how should we help him if he is an oppressor?“ The Prophet, may Allah bless him and give him peace, said, “By preventing him from oppressing others.“ [Bukhari]
Resources
Here is a source for many ethically made clothing shops in your area.
https://www.terumah.ca/where-canadians-can-buy-ethical-sustainable-fashion-online/
This clothing might cost you a little more, but remember that any intention you make for Allah’s pleasure will serve you as an eternal good deed. Also, consider learning how to sew or hiring a local tailor. My teacher taught us that the deeds with the most blessings in one’s life are reaped with one’s own hands; this includes cooking one’s own food and sewing one’s own clothes. May Allah reward you for your awareness and keenness to do good.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, Tafseer, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She recently moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.
