Wearing a tie

13-5-2002 | IslamWeb

Question:

In Fatwa number 85622 a scholar has stated that it is permissible to wear the tie. However, I have read and heard that it is impermissible to use the tie because it symbolizes the cross, and in essence when a Muslim wears a tie he is imitating the non-believers.

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Answer:

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the World; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.

The first appearance of the tie was in Europe. It is said that wearing the tie was originally a sign of faithfulness of a husband to his wife; afterwards its meaning continued to change until the present day. Now wearing the tie is merely a custom for many Muslims; no longer is it considered the characteristic of non-Muslims. So, wearing the tie is not regarded as imitating them unless one wears it only for the reason that Westerners wear it. In that case, he will come under the saying of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam): "Whoever imitates non-Muslims he will be one of them" . [ Ahmad and Abu Dawood ]. However, it is better for a Muslim to leave it.
On the other hand, it is forbidden for a woman to wear a tie since it is considered imitating men and the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) has cursed the women who imitate men. Ibn Abbas (Radiya Allahu Anhu) reported that, "The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) cursed those men who assume the manners of women and those women who assume the manners of men" . [Reported by Imam al-Bukhari ]. It was reported to Ayisha (Radiya Allahu Anha) that a woman wore sandals. She said: "The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) cursed the woman who adopts masculine manners" . [ Abu Dawood ].
'Sandals' mentioned in the Hadith means those that are similar to those worn by men.
Allah knows best.