Is It Haram for Women to Wear Tight Clothes?

Praise be to Allah.

Wearing tight clothes that show off a woman’s charms and that may cause temptation is haram. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “There are two types of the people of Hell whom I have not seen: men with whips like the tails of cattle with which they strike the people – i.e., by way of wrongdoing and oppression – and women who are clothed yet naked, astray and leading others astray.” 

The phrase “clothed yet naked” has been interpreted as meaning that they wear short clothes that do not cover the `awrah that should be covered, or as meaning that they wear thin clothes that do not prevent people from seeing the woman’s skin, or as meaning that they wear tight clothes which prevent others from seeing (the skin) but which show off the woman’s charms. 

Based on this, it is not permissible for a woman to wear these tight clothes except in front of the one in front of whom she is permitted to show her `awrah, namely the husband , for there is no `awrah between husband and wife. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“Except from their wives or (the slaves) that their right hands possess, for then, they are free from blame” [al-Muminun 23:6]

And `Aishah said: “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and I used to do ghusl (from janabah) from the same vessel, taking turns to dip our hands in it.” 

So there is no `awrah between a man and his wife . But between a woman and her mahrams, she is obliged to cover her `awrah. It is not permissible to wear tight clothes in front of mahrams or other women, if they are very tight and show off the woman’s charms.

And Allah knows best.