Mufti Menk – Don’t Tell Me How to Dress

			Assalamu alaikum people say, Don't tell me how to dress. Don't tell me what to wear, who on earth
are you to tell me? My brothers and sisters, we're believers. And you know what? Yes, we do know
that we feel hurt when people tell us the do's and don'ts, but I am going to word it in a very
beautiful way, we were created by the Creator and we are going to return to the Creator. So what we
need to know is when he has asked us to dress in a specific way, find out what that way is, and
adopted. And when you do that, you would then be considered a true believer. And you would be
preparing for the day that you meet with Allah, why he asks you and I to dress in a specific way, or
		

			at least to cover
		

			in a certain way, there is a minimum and then inshallah, whatever you want to do beyond that is a
good thing. But the reason why he says that he knows there is holistic benefit for you in this
world. And the next, take a look at the Quran, where Allah subhanho wa Taala instructs
		

			a certain category of females to wear an outer garment. And then he says vatika dinner and you're
off now follow you again, this is closer for them to actually be recognized as women have high
morals and values, women who are chaste women who are honorable, and so they won't be harmed. So
Allah is telling us in the Quran, and this is not just for women, it's for men and women, that if
you were to adopt what I am telling you, you will find, because of that recognition, people will
consider you upon a certain level of values and morals upon a certain standard of connection with
Allah upon a certain point.
		

			And therefore, they will not harm you, they will not look at you in a derogatory way, they will not
say bad words to you, and so on have a certain perhaps, you know degree. Now, at times people might
say, well, there are those who are covered completely who are still abused, when the abuse is
different, some panela. One is to be abused, because they would consider you have low morals and
values and the other is to be abused, because they would consider you have high morals and values.
So they cannot stomach the fact that you have a very high level of morals and you're just not
dissolving in the cauldron. So Subhanallah that irritation makes them pass comments when you are
		

			enduring them, you're enduring them for the sake of Allah. It may make them
		

			say hurtful words and at times, even to the level of persecution. It's that persecution or harmful
words that you're enduring for the sake of Allah, the reward is tremendous. But then there is that
that you're enduring for the sake of shaitan, which means or for your own sake. So I'm enduring this
because I decided that I really don't want to cover the way as a believer I'm supposed to cover
Nowadays, people say Do what you want. I know from a secular perspective, that may be what is valid.
But from a religious perspective, or from an Islamic perspective, those who believe have set
themselves a certain level, come on, find out what that level is find out for yourself, and be
		

			interested in it. Because we don't want to get to a day when it's too late. We're saying we're
believers. So find out what you're supposed to be doing the level of dress both both male and
female, and do that and see the benefit. So the next time someone reminds you, I know the reminding
is different from person to person. Some people are harsh the way they speak. Some people have a
softer tone, some people might just encourage you without even speaking. So everyone has a different
way of getting the message across. But try and understand. Ultimately, everyone wants to see
goodness, for themselves and for others. And I hope when we speak to others, we don't just attack
		

			them or speak in a very judgmental way, rather, in an encouraging way, in a beautiful way, tapping
them to say you know what, my brother, my sister, find out for yourself and make sure that you know
what revelation states and you understand that this is what I'm supposed to do. And I'm supposed to
be upon the highest level of morality value.
		

			Use the most beautiful dress that will relate me to the right things or connect me to the right
things and they will actually make me known for the right reasons and so on. And then dress that
way. May Allah subhanho wa Taala bless us all. Apollo Kohli hava Salam alaykum warahmatullahi
wabarakatuh