Can I Wear a Belt over My Modest Clothing?

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Answered by Ustada Shazia Ahmad

Question

Is it permissible for a female to wear a belt with an abaya or dress in a way that isn’t tight? If I tie the belt loosely such that the chest and hips are not enhanced, is this okay, especially when one wears a long headscarf that covers her chest and back? Many abayas and long dresses come with a belt and sometimes don’t look as nice without the belt, so I was wondering if this is okay. I looked online and found one big scholar who prohibits it. I was thinking that given the context above, as I do want to dress modestly and not show the shape of my body, perhaps it is all right if I don’t tie it tightly.

Answer

Thank you for your question. May Allah reward you for being strict about your clothing and seeking the pleasure of Allah through your modesty.

Belts

Regarding your comment “and sometimes don’t look as nice without the belt“, this hadith is relevant. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “There is never any obscenity in a thing, but it mars it, and there is never any modesty in a thing, but it adorns it.” [Ibn Maja]

The whole purpose of a belt is to show the body shape, but if you feel that you can do it loosely, it is permissible. I haven’t seen any belts that look good when they are loose, but perhaps you have more fashion know-how than I do. If you were to discard the belt altogether for the sake of Allah, I would expect your reward to be manifold. If you want options for dressing elegantly with modesty, consider these clothing websites:
Shukr Clothing
East Essence

Please see these links as well:
May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustada] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria for two years where she studied aqida, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.

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