Are Males Allowed to Dress Up as Females?
Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Question
I am a male, and I have a habit of acting like a woman when I’m alone. I wear fake gold plated jewelry and ladies’ scarfs – not full-dress – and admire myself in the mirror. I’m not gay and only do this where no one can see me. Is this game I play haram? If so, is it a major sin or minor?
Answer
I pray you are well.
This game of yours is not permissible. You should stop it, turn to Allah with tawba, and seek forgiveness.
The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) cursed men who imitate women and women who imitate men. [Bukhari] This narration implies a punishment – being distanced from Allah’s mercy – which indicates this sin is an enormity.
This is due to the harm that such actions bring upon individuals and society in general. Actions that affect one’s fitra (default human state) end up affecting people’s actions and relationships negatively. This brings harm to society, so the door to these actions has been closed with this prohibition.
Try your best to stop it. If you still feel an urge to continue, you should seek some form of therapy, as this isn’t normal behavior for a young man, and, unfortunately, these symptoms do not occur in a vacuum. There is usually a set of traumatic experiences that lead to it.
May Allah facilitate the matter for you in the best way.
[Shyakh] Abdul-Rahim
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History he moved to Damascus in 2007 where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.
