I was on my way to the operation room to deliver my son. I was in severe hardship, and I said: “O Allah, if my baby and I survive the operation, then I will not wear pants anymore.” I wear the hijab, and I usually wear long chemises and pants, but now I only wear skirts. However, the nature of my work now requires going out to the street and riding high cars. May I go back on my previous words? I have been adhering to my pledge for four years. Is it permissible for me to return to wearing pants with long shirts?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and messenger.

Wearing pants might be permissible or impermissible according to the way that you wear them. If you wear them in an impermissible manner, that is to say that the conditions that we are going to mention are not met, then fulfilling your vow is obligatory because it is a vow of obedience. However, if you wear them in a permissible manner, that is to say in accordance with the conditions that we are going to mention, then it is a vow of doing something permissible. In case of vowing to do something permissible, the vow taker is given the choice between fulfilling it and not fulfilling it. There is a well-known difference in opinion among the scholars concerning the obligation of offering expiation in case of choosing to not fulfill the vow. It is more prudent that you offer expiation like that of breaking an oath.

Therefore, you may wear trousers if the following conditions are met:

Firstly: that they are worn under concealing and loose clothes.

Secondly: that they do not resemble the trousers of men.

Thirdly: that the intention of wearing them is not imitating the clothes of disbelieving women.

If these conditions are met, then you may wear trousers. However, if they are not met, then it is impermissible for you to wear them. 

Allaah Knows best.