Miscellaneous Women Issues… asalam-o-alaikum! I wanted to know that whether wearing a big chadar is compulsory or is it o.k if one wears a scarf over the head and dresses up in a long and loose shirt and baggy trousers. I was just wondering because everyone stares awkwardly [not that I care, but I was just wondering]. Another thing is that whether plucking of the eyebrows and threading the face and shaving of legs and arms allowed or not? Lots of people think it is prohibited but my husband say's it is o.k to do so. I will be really grateful to you for answering my questions. Allah Hafiz. Reply While interacting in a mixed gathering, the Qur’an, besides a few other directives [1] , has directed Muslim women to spread their head coverings over their bosoms. Keeping this directive in perspective, it is for the individual to decide whether wearing a particular kind of dress would be in accordance with the directives of the Shari`ah . In view of the above explanation, if the individual feels that the dress referred to in your question fulfills the directive of the Qur’an, she may wear such a dress, whereas if the individual has any apprehensions about it, she may avoid wearing such a dress and resort to wearing the particular style of dress, which in her understanding, is more coherent with the directives of the Qur’an. As far as the plucking of eyebrows for the sake of shaping them and shaving of unwanted hair from legs is concerned, because the Shari`ah does not prohibit such an act, therefore, no one has the authority to consider it Haraam . In all such cases, two guiding principles should be kept in mind while making an opinion regarding the allowance or prohibition of a particular act. Firstly, such an act should not be against the natural make up of the human body. For instance, a person should not shave off her eyebrows or her head. Secondly, the purpose of such an act should not be against the value of Hayaa [2] . I hope this helps. Regards, Moiz Amjad Home Page [1] For the other directives, please refer to one of my previous responses titled “Is it Obligatory for Women to Cover their Heads?”, posted at: http://www.understanding-islam.com/rs/s-045.htm [2] Hayaa , over here refers to: “the suppression of sexual behavior within certain limits and the avoidance of instigating sexual attraction beyond those limits”. According to the Qur’an, Hayaa is one of the primary values, which, besides a few other values, provides the basis for not only moral behavior, but also is one of the most important foundations for a sound and stable society.