Muslim men wearing clothes dyed with saffron

5-12-2010 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalamu alaikum.In India saffron is peculiar to Hindus.Rarely Muslims wear it.Christians wear it often.Hadees prohibits wearing saffron.But in your fatwa you said if something peculiar to non muslims become common it is no longer forbidden.So since christians also use saffron as regular dress can it be worn by muslims? Jazakhallah Khairain.

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Answer:

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 is His slave and Messenger.

The jurists differed in opinion about the permissibility of wearing clothes dyed with saffron for men; this difference of opinion is discussed in Fatwa 92204.

However, it was reported that some Companions and Taabi’is from among the Salaf used to wear it, as we discussed in Fatwa .">115607.

Nonetheless, it is better to avoid wearing it in order to avoid the difference of opinion. Avoiding wearing it is even more confirmed if it is predominantly worn by non-Muslims lest a Muslim would imitate them in wearing it.

On the other hand, what we mentioned in our Fatwa which you referred to in your question is the criterion for the forbidden imitation of the non-Muslim, which means that what is peculiar to the non-Muslims is forbidden; this applies to all the non-Muslims. As regards what is common between them and the Muslims, then this is not included in the imitation that is forbidden.

Allaah Knows best.