Cross Dressing and Islam:

An examination of Muhammad’s Dress Code

 

Dimitrius & Sam Shamoun

 

The Holy Bible clearly condemns cross-dressing, i.e. man dressing like a woman and vice-versa. God’s holy Word says that those who do such things are an abomination to Yahweh:

 

“A woman must not wear men's clothing, nor a man wear women's clothing, for the LORD your God detests anyone who does this.” Deuteronomy 22:5 NIV

 

What is about to follow next may shock not only Christians but Muslims as well. The authentic hadith literature unashamedly states that Muhammad wore Aisha’s apparel as he reclined before her, and also exposed his thighs in front of men.

 

Instead of saying anything more about this we will simply quote the relevant sources and let the readers see for themselves. All bold, capital and underline emphasis will be ours.

 

 

 

From Mishkat Al Masabih, Volume II

Book XXVI- Fitan.

Chapter XXXVIII, “The Fine Qualities of the Prophet’s Wives.”

 

She told that the people used to choose: ‘A’isha’s day to bring their gifts, seeking thereby to please God’s messenger. She said that God’s messenger’s wives were in two parties, one including ‘A’isha, Hafsa, Safiya, and Sauda, and the other including Umm Salama and the rest of God’s messenger’s wives. Umm Salama’s party spoke to her telling her to ask God’s messenger to say to the people, “If anyone wishes to make a present to God’s messenger, let him present it to him wherever he happens to be.” She did so and he replied, “Do not annoy me regarding ‘A’isha, for inspiration has not come to me when I was in any WOMAN’S GARMENT but ‘A’isha’s.” They then called Fatima, sent her to God’s messenger, and she spoke to him, but he replied, “Do you not like what I like, girlie?” She said, “Certainly,” so he said, “Then love this woman.” (Bukhari and Muslim.) (English translation with explanatory notes by Dr. James Robson, Sh. Muhammad Ahsraf Publishers, Booksellers & Exporters, Lahore-Pakistan, Reprint 1990, p. 1361; bold and capital emphasis ours)

 

 

 

From the Sahih Collection of al-Bukhari, Hadith Number 2442

Chapter 54. The Book of Gifts and their Excellence, VII: The one who gave a gift to his friend aiming for a time when he was with one of his wives rather than another.

 

It is related from 'A'isha that the wives of the messenger of Allah fell into two parties. One party contained 'A'isha, Hafsa, Safiyya and Sawda, and the other party contained Umm Salama and the rest of the wives of the messenger of Allah. The Muslims knew of the love of the messenger of Allah for 'A'isha, so when any of them had a gift which he wanted to give to the messenger of Allah he would delay it until the messenger of Allah was in 'A'isha's house. Then the person with the gift would send it to the messenger of Allah while he was in 'A'isha's house. The party of Umm Salama spoke about it and said to her, "Tell the messenger of Allah to speak to the people and say, 'Whoever wants to give a gift to the messenger of Allah should give it to him in the house of whichever wife he is.'" Umm Salama spoke to him about what they had said, but he did not say anything. They asked her and she said, "He did not say anything to me." They said to her, "Speak to him." She said she spoke to him when he went around to her as well, but he did not say anything to her. They asked her and she said, “He did not say anything to me.” They said to her, “Speak to him until he speaks to you.” He went around to her and she spoke to him. He said to her, “Do not injure me regarding 'A'isha. The revelation does not come to me when I am in the GARMENT of any woman except 'A'isha.” She said, "I repent to Allah from injuring you, Messenger of Allah.” Then they called Fatima, the daughter of the messenger of Allah, and sent her to the messenger of Allah to say, “Your wives ask you by Allah for fairness regarding the daughter of Abu Bakr.” She spoke to him and he said, “O my daughter, do you not love what I love?” She said, “Yes indeed.” She returned to them and informed them. They said, “Go back to him,” but she refused to go back. They sent Zaynab bint Jahsh and she went to him and spoke harshly, saying. “Your wives ask you by Allah for fairness regarding the daughter of ibn Abi Quhafa.” She raised her voice until she turned to 'A'isha, who was sitting down, and abused her until the messenger of Allah looked at 'A'isha to see if she would speak. ‘A'isha spoke to answer back Zaynab until she had silenced her. She said, “The prophet looked at 'A'isha and said, ‘She is indeed the daughter of Abu Bakr.’” (Aisha Bewley: http://bewley.virtualave.net/bukhari20.html#gifts)

 

 

 

From Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith Number 2393

Volume Title, “Grace and its Virtues.”

Chapter Title, “What was Granted to the Companions and the Wives.”

 

Narrated by Ismail, narrated by his brother, narrated by Sulaiman, narrated by Hisham ibn Urwah, narrated by his father, narrated by Aisha who related that the wives of the prophet were divided into two groups. One group consisted of Aisha, Hafsa, Safiya and Sawdah while the other group consisted of Um Salamah and the rest of the women that belonged to the prophet. The Muslims had learned of the great love that the prophet had for Aisha so that if one of them had a gift he desired to give to the prophet, he would delay giving it until the prophet came to Aisha’s house.

 

Then the group who sided with Um Salamah came to Um Salamah and asked her to tell the prophet that he should command the people that if any of them had a gift to give to the prophet, they should give it him in whatever house of his wives the prophet was in at the time.

 

So Um Salamah went and talked with the prophet but he did not respond to her. When the group asked her what the prophet said she told them that he did not respond. So they asked her to go talk to him again until he responds… then the prophet said to her, “Do not hurt me with Aisha, for the inspiration did not come upon me when I was IN (fee) A WOMAN’S GARMENT (Thawb) EXCEPT THAT OF AISHA.”

 

Source- http://hadith.al-islam.com/Display/Display.asp?hnum=2393&doc=0

 

 

يأتيه الوحي وهو في ثوب عائشة

‏حدثنا ‏ ‏إسماعيل ‏ ‏قال حدثني ‏ ‏أخي ‏ ‏عن ‏ ‏سليمان ‏ ‏عن ‏ ‏هشام بن عروة ‏ ‏عن ‏ ‏أبيه ‏ ‏عن ‏ ‏عائشة ‏ ‏رضي الله عنها ‏أن نساء رسول الله ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏كن حزبين فحزب فيه ‏ ‏عائشة ‏ ‏وحفصة ‏ ‏وصفية ‏ ‏وسودة ‏ ‏والحزب الآخر ‏ ‏أم سلمة ‏ ‏وسائر نساء رسول الله ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏وكان المسلمون قد علموا حب رسول الله ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏عائشة ‏ ‏فإذا كانت عند أحدهم هدية يريد أن يهديها إلى رسول الله ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏أخرها حتى إذا كان رسول الله ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏في بيت ‏ ‏عائشة ‏ ‏بعث صاحب الهدية بها إلى رسول الله ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏في بيت ‏ ‏عائشة ‏ ‏فكلم حزب ‏ ‏أم سلمة ‏ ‏فقلن لها كلمي رسول الله ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏يكلم الناس فيقول من أراد أن يهدي إلى رسول الله ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏هدية فليهده إليه حيث كان من بيوت نسائه فكلمته ‏ ‏أم سلمة ‏ ‏بما قلن فلم يقل لها شيئا فسألنها فقالت ما قال لي شيئا فقلن لها فكلميه قالت فكلمته حين دار إليها أيضا فلم يقل لها شيئا فسألنها فقالت ما قال لي شيئا فقلن لها كلميه حتى يكلمك فدار إليها فكلمته فقال لها ‏ ‏لا تؤذيني في ‏ ‏عائشة ‏ ‏فإن الوحي لم يأتني وأنا في ثوب امرأة إلا ‏ ‏عائشة ‏ ‏قالت فقالت أتوب إلى الله من أذاك يا رسول الله ثم إنهن دعون ‏ ‏فاطمة بنت رسول الله ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏فأرسلت إلى رسول الله ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏تقول إن نساءك ينشدنك الله العدل في بنت ‏ ‏أبي بكر ‏ ‏فكلمته فقال يا بنية ألا تحبين ما أحب قالت بلى فرجعت إليهن فأخبرتهن فقلن ارجعي إليه فأبت أن ترجع فأرسلن ‏ ‏زينب بنت جحش ‏ ‏فأتته فأغلظت وقالت إن نساءك ينشدنك الله العدل في بنت ابن ‏ ‏أبي قحافة ‏ ‏فرفعت صوتها حتى تناولت ‏ ‏عائشة ‏ ‏وهي قاعدة فسبتها حتى إن رسول الله ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏لينظر إلى ‏ ‏عائشة ‏ ‏هل تكلم قال فتكلمت ‏ ‏عائشة ‏ ‏ترد على ‏ ‏زينب ‏ ‏حتى أسكتتها قالت فنظر النبي ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏إلى ‏ ‏عائشة ‏ ‏وقال إنها بنت ‏ ‏أبي بكر

صحيح البخاري .. كتاب الهبة و فضلها و التحريض عليها .. باب من أهدى إلى صاحبه و تحرى بعض نسائه دون بعض

 

 

 

From Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith Number 3941

Volume Title, “The Book of Virtues.”

Chapter Title, “The Virtues of Aisha.”

 

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Abdel Wahab, narrated by Hamad, narrated by Hisham, narrated by his father who related that the people would present their gifts (to the prophet) when he was at Aisha’s house. The companions of Um Salamah said, “O Um Salamah! By Allah the people wait to give their gifts till it is Aisha’s day and we desire the good things just as Aisha does. So ask the prophet to command the people to give him his gifts in whatever house of his wives he may be in.”

 

Um Salamah mentioned this to the prophet but would not respond to her. She repeated it a second time but he still would not respond to her, but on the third time he said, “O Um Salama! Do not hurt me with Aisha; for by Allah, the inspiration did not descend on me while I was IN THE COVERINGS (lihaf) of any of you (women) except Aisha.”

 

Source- http://hadith.al-islam.com/Display/Display.asp?Doc=0&Rec=5672

 

 

محمد في لحاف عائشة

‏حدثنا ‏ ‏عبد الله بن عبد الوهاب ‏ ‏حدثنا ‏ ‏حماد ‏ ‏حدثنا ‏ ‏هشام ‏ ‏عن ‏ ‏أبيه ‏ ‏قال ‏‏كان الناس يتحرون بهداياهم يوم ‏ ‏عائشة ‏ ‏قالت ‏ ‏عائشة ‏ ‏فاجتمع صواحبي إلى ‏ ‏أم سلمة ‏ ‏فقلن يا ‏ ‏أم سلمة ‏ ‏والله إن الناس يتحرون بهداياهم يوم ‏ ‏عائشة ‏ ‏وإنا نريد الخير كما تريده ‏ ‏عائشة ‏ ‏فمري رسول الله ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏أن يأمر الناس أن يهدوا إليه حيث ما كان أو حيث ما دار قالت فذكرت ذلك ‏ ‏أم سلمة ‏ ‏للنبي ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏قالت فأعرض عني فلما عاد إلي ذكرت له ذاك فأعرض عني فلما كان في الثالثة ذكرت له فقال ‏ ‏يا ‏ ‏أم سلمة ‏ ‏لا تؤذيني في ‏ ‏عائشة ‏ ‏فإنه والله ما نزل علي الوحي وأنا في لحاف امرأة منكن غيرها.

صحيح البخاري .. كتاب المناقب .. فضل عائشة رضي الله عنها

 

 

From the English translation of the Sahih collection of Imam Muslim, Book 031, Number 5984:

The Book Pertaining to the Merits of the Companions of the Holy Prophet (Kitab Al-Fada'il Al-Sahabah)

 

'A'isha, the wife of Allah's Apostle, said: The wives of Allah's Apostle sent Fatima, the daughter of Allah's Messenger, to Allah's Apostle. She sought permission to get in as he had been lying with me IN MY MANTLE… The wives of Allah's Apostle then sent Zainab b. Jahsh, the wife of Allah's Apostle… She, however, lost temper very soon but was soon calm. Allah's Messenger permitted her to enter as she ('A'isha) was along with Allah's Messenger IN HER MANTLE, in the same very state when Fatima had entered… (http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/muslim/031.smt.html#031.5984)

 

 

From the Sahih collection of Imam Muslim, Hadith Number 4472

Volume Title, “From the Virtues of the Companions.”

Chapter Title, “From the Virtues of Aisha.”

 

Narrated by al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Hilwani, narrated by Abu Bakr ibn Nadir, narrated by Abd ibn Hamid, narrated by Yakun ibn Ibrahim ibn Sa’d Ibn, narrated by his father, narrated by Salih ibn Shihab, narrated by Muhammad ibn Abdel Rahman ibn Harith ibn Hisham related that Aisha, the wife of the prophet, said,

 

“The wives of the prophet sent Fatimah, the daughter of the prophet, to him and she requested permission to enter while he was lying down on my bed (wearing) IN (fee) MY ROBE (Mirt). He gave her permission to enter and she told him that his wives had sent her to him seeking justice concerning the daughter of Abu Kahafa (Aisha). The prophet said to her, ‘O daughter, do you not love what I love?’ She replied, ‘Yes! I do.’ He then said to her, ‘Then love her also.’ So Fatimah got up when she heard that from the prophet and returned to the wives of the prophet.

Then the wives sent to the prophet Zaynab Bint Jahsh… who requested permission from the prophet to enter while he was with Aisha IN (fee) HER ROBE (Mirt) and in the same state that Fatimah found him in.”

 

Source- http://hadith.al-islam.com/Display/Display.asp?hnum=4472&doc=1

 

 

‏حدثني ‏ ‏الحسن بن علي الحلواني ‏ ‏وأبو بكر بن النضر ‏ ‏وعبد بن حميد ‏ ‏قال ‏ ‏عبد ‏ ‏حدثني ‏ ‏و قال ‏ ‏الآخران ‏ ‏حدثنا ‏ ‏يعقوب بن إبراهيم بن سعد ‏ ‏حدثني ‏ ‏أبي ‏ ‏عن ‏ ‏صالح ‏ ‏عن ‏ ‏ابن شهاب ‏ ‏أخبرني ‏ ‏محمد بن عبد الرحمن بن الحارث بن هشام ‏ ‏أن ‏ ‏عائشة زوج النبي ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏قالت ‏أرسل أزواج النبي ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏فاطمة بنت رسول الله ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏إلى رسول الله ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏فاستأذنت عليه وهو مضطجع معي في ‏ ‏مرطي ‏ ‏فأذن لها فقالت يا رسول الله إن أزواجك أرسلنني إليك يسألنك العدل في ابنة ‏ ‏أبي قحافة ‏ ‏وأنا ساكتة قالت فقال لها رسول الله ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏أي بنية ألست تحبين ما أحب فقالت بلى قال فأحبي هذه قالت فقامت ‏ ‏فاطمة ‏ ‏حين سمعت ذلك من رسول الله ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏فرجعت إلى أزواج النبي ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏فأخبرتهن بالذي قالت وبالذي قال لها رسول الله ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏فقلن لها ما ‏ ‏نراك أغنيت عنا من شيء فارجعي إلى رسول الله ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏فقولي له إن أزواجك ‏ ‏ينشدنك ‏ ‏العدل في ابنة ‏ ‏أبي قحافة ‏ ‏فقالت ‏ ‏فاطمة ‏ ‏والله لا أكلمه فيها أبدا قالت ‏ ‏عائشة ‏ ‏فأرسل أزواج النبي ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏زينب بنت جحش زوج النبي ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏وهي التي كانت ‏ ‏تساميني ‏ ‏منهن في المنزلة عند رسول الله ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏ولم أر امرأة قط خيرا في الدين من ‏ ‏زينب ‏ ‏وأتقى لله وأصدق حديثا وأوصل للرحم وأعظم صدقة وأشد ‏ ‏ابتذالا ‏ ‏لنفسها في العمل الذي تصدق به ‏ ‏وتقرب به إلى الله تعالى ما عدا ‏ ‏سورة ‏ ‏من حدة ‏ ‏كانت فيها تسرع منها ‏ ‏الفيئة ‏ ‏قالت فاستأذنت على رسول الله ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏ورسول الله ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏مع ‏ ‏عائشة ‏ ‏في ‏ ‏مرطها ‏ ‏على الحالة التي دخلت ‏ ‏فاطمة ‏ ‏عليها وهو بها فأذن لها رسول الله ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏فقالت يا رسول الله إن أزواجك أرسلنني إليك يسألنك العدل في ابنة ‏ ‏أبي قحافة ‏ ‏قالت ثم ‏ ‏وقعت بي ‏ ‏فاستطالت ‏ ‏علي وأنا أرقب رسول الله ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏وأرقب طرفه هل يأذن لي فيها قالت فلم ‏ ‏تبرح ‏ ‏زينب ‏ ‏حتى عرفت أن رسول الله ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏لا يكره أن أنتصر قالت فلما ‏ ‏وقعت بها ‏ ‏لم ‏ ‏أنشبها ‏ ‏حتى ‏ ‏أنحيت ‏ ‏عليها قالت فقال رسول الله ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏وتبسم إنها ابنة ‏ ‏أبي بكر ‏
‏و حدثنيه ‏ ‏محمد بن عبد الله بن قهزاذ ‏ ‏قال ‏ ‏عبد الله بن عثمان ‏ ‏حدثنيه عن ‏ ‏عبد الله بن المبارك ‏ ‏عن ‏ ‏يونس ‏ ‏عن ‏ ‏الزهري ‏ ‏بهذا الإسناد ‏ ‏مثله في المعنى غير أنه قال فلما ‏ ‏وقعت بها ‏ ‏لم ‏ ‏أنشبها ‏ ‏أن ‏ ‏أثخنتها ‏ ‏غلبة

صحيح مسلم .. كتاب فضائل الصحابة .. باب في فضل عائشة رضي الله تعالى عنهما

 

 

 

This concludes the first section of our article. In the following part we will address the response of one Muslim “polemicist” who was quite angry with us for exposing the fact that his prophet was a cross-dresser. 

 

 

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