My mother covers her hair and wears loose trousers but does not wear jilbaab. I asked a sheikh if I can walk with her outside and he said that what she is wearing is incorrect and I should not be endorsing it. So I do not walk outside with my mother. Dear sheikh please may you clarify this for me, is it makrooh or haraam for me to walk outside with her whether it's just a walk or going to a restaurant or to the shops with her?

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

The view that we adopt here in Islamweb is that it is not permissible for a woman to go out with trousers without wearing a Jilbab above them, even if the trousers are loose, as we have explained in several Fatawa.

As regards your going out with your mother, then advise her in a gentle and polite manner to wear a loose garment that covers her body on top of the trousers; if she takes head, then that is what is required, but if she insists on going out with the pants, then we see that there is no harm in going out with her, while always advising her in a gentle and polite manner as there is no harm for a Muslim to sit with the disobedient people – the same thing applies to accompanying them – if he forbids them from evil and advises them, hoping that they may accept his advice even after a while. Allah Says (what means): {And when you see those who engage in [offensive] discourse concerning Our verses, then turn away from them until they enter into another conversation. And if Satan should cause you to forget, then do not remain after the reminder with the wrongdoing people.} [Quran 6:68]

Allah Says after this (what means): {And those who fear Allah are not held accountable for the disbelievers at all, but [only for] a reminder - that perhaps they will fear Him.} [Quran 6:69]

Imam Al-Baghawi said about the interpretation of the verse {but [only for] a reminder - that perhaps they will fear Him}; that is: to remind them and exhort them with the Quran, ... {that perhaps they will fear Him} meaning fearing engaging in [offensive] discourse – if you preach to them – so Allah permitted sitting with them while preaching to them, perhaps this will prevent them from engaging in [offensive] discourse; it was also said: so that they may be ashamed.” [End of quote]

For more benefit on women wearing pants (trousers), please refer to Fatawa 435553, 113595, 85748 and 88156.

Allah knows best.