:salam2: brother:
If you are talking about Women shalwar kameez ..then let me inform you that it contains the following.
1)shalwar 2) kamiz 3) dupatta or shawl
The combination of all those 3 is called shalwar kameez. And the shawl or dupatta is used to cover the whole top and the middle part of the female body (i am talking about big shawl) . If you go to northern parts of Pakistan, then you probably would know what i am talking about.
Hence to formulate an opinion that only one particular dress is considered ISLAMIC is unsuitable and we should refrain from it. The islamic codes of dressing are pretty clear. If any dress covers those aspect or rules then there is no harm in wearing that..
:salam2:
As-salaamu `alaykum.
Alhamdulillah I know what you are talking about. If anything, the people of the north have the best dress (in terms of modesty), compared to everywhere else I have been across the country. Yet like I said, the majority of shalwar kameez don't fulfill the criteria, even the plainer ones. And of course, there are more than one form of covering that are correct in Islaam. I didn't hint nor suggest that they are limited to one akhi. There are many types of covering worn by women from Africa to Indonesia which are suitable, but since the discussion is regarding the Shalwar Kameez, and `Abaayas across people from the sub-Indian continent I saw it fit to talk about the two.
Remember also that a woman's covering should be rather plain and dull, with little embroidery/patterns. For this reason, if you look across the Ummah, most women who cover correctly use colours such as black (which has its place in the sunnah), greys, navy blues and other dullish colours and shades. Even when I spent time in the Northern Areas, and NWFP I didn't see this sunnah being observed except by those who wore something over their shalwar kameez, such as a large enough chadar and an `abaayah or jilbaab or something else. And seldom do I see women wear absolutely plain or even dull, non-attentive, shalwar kameez.
However, some have told me how this has been the case in more recent times, due to the modernisation taking place in many towns and cities. But alhamdulillaah, the North seems more free from that, which is why I still like it up there (let alone the beauty of the land, maa shaa Allaah). But at the same time, many people are turning back to the religion and the way of the companions. Hence, seeing black and dark overgarments, whatever kind they may be is growing to be more popular.
And maa shaa Allaah, Al-Fajr you hit the mark with your posts. Even `Abaayahs are purely fashionable these days... all those patterns and really thin see-through materials? It's illogical and defeats the purpose. It's like protecting your self from the rain with a fishing net. It's making it harder for sisters to cover properly as even the `abaayah shops are slacking.
Was-salaam
).
.
