Beginning

Assalamoleikum everyone,

so here's an overview of my blog

Savoir-faire n.
The ability to say or do the right or graceful thing.

I was born and raised here in America and I know that integrating Islamic principles into our contemporary American culture/lifestyle without sacrificing the absoluteness and immaculacy of the Din can be confusing - after all it would be a tough to walk around in a full on naqaab [and you aren't supposed to bring unnecessary attention to yourself] but there are so many alternatives that fit into the latest fashions and are still covered! Honestly, when you learn more about how beautiful Islam is and embrace it and you are confident about it, it all radiates from of you (:

Basically I feel that it's important for all of my Muslim sisters to know that dressing "modestly" does not imply wearing clothes 10 sizes to big and looking sloppy - and I say that because that used to be my view on it - in fact once you develop an eye for it, finding classy modest clothes is simple! I hope to provide a new perspective on islamic dressing and some ideas for my sisters.

So let's start off with an answer I found on Sunnipath.com:

Q: Are all these "fashionable women's Islamic clothes" considered modest by the Shariah?

This returns to the `urf (local customs and norms). Something highly modest in America may not modest by the standards of more conservative societies. The Shariah has placed general guidelines for proper dress: it must be modest, loose (especially around sensitive areas), and must cover one’s awrah. This is fixed, unalterable guidance. After this, how this is fulfilled returns to local customs, environment, and one’s situation, flexible within the limits of the fixed guidelines of the Qur’an and the luminous guidance of the Beloved of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace).

About clothing - that I think everyone should keep in mind so we i’A don’t dress sloppily, because we are representing an ummah:

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said,

“Allah is Beautiful and loves beauty.” [Muslim]

And he said (Allah bless him and give him peace),

“Allah loves to see the traces of His blessings on His servants.” [Tirmidhi]

Imam Zayn al-Din al-Razi (d. 666 AH), author of the famous dictionary Mukhtar al-Sahah, explained the essential rulings of dress in his beautiful work Tuhfat al-Muluk:

Clothing has three levels:
1. Obligatory. This is covering one’s nakedness, and warding off the harms of heat and cold…
2. Recommended. This is wearing beautiful clothing, in order to look good and adorn oneself, displaying the blessings of Allah.
3. Prohibited. This is dressing out of haughtiness and arrogance.

Allah alone gives success.