In the Era of Unisex Culture and Cross-Gender Resemblance: A Contemporary Analysis Based on Hadith Literature

Abstract

In the contemporary era, the rise of 'unisex' fashion and cross-gender resemblance under the influence of Western civilization has emerged as a deeply concerning religious, intellectual, moral, and cultural challenge for Muslim society. The deliberate blurring of traditional male and female distinctions in dress, appearance, and behavior is not merely a transient fashion trend or a symbol of modernity; rather, it represents a profound diabolical trap aimed at alienating humanity from its primordial state (Fitrah). The Quran highlights this hazardous satanic agenda in Surah An-Nisa under the concept of 'Taghyir Khalq Allah' (altering the creation of Allah. Linguistically and historically, although the roots of this term trace back to nineteenth-century British literaturewhere it was utilized in the context of gender equality the modern fashion industry has transformed it into a gender-neutral aesthetic that eradicates the divine and natural distinctions between the sexes. The situation within Islamic society has escalated to a critical point, where the distinction between Muslim men and women has eroded not only in attire but also in body language and deportment.

Robust evidence from Hadith literatureand established Islamic principles unequivocally demonstrates that the intentional adoption of cross-gender resemblance (Tashabbuh) is strictly prohibited (Haram) and categorized as a major sin (Kabirah) in Islamic law. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) severely cursed those who engage in this act and mandated their social ostracization. To counter this intellectual imperialism and the material allure of the West, it is imperative to critically evaluate Western material civilization, foster awareness for the internal and intellectual safeguarding of Muslim society, and enforce practical and reformative measures under the divine obligation of 'Amr bil-Ma'ruf wa Nahi 'anil-Munkar' (enjoining good and  forbidding evil). This is crucial to securing the moral survival of the newer generation and curbing this epidemic spreading within the Islamic society.

Keywords: Unisex Fashion, Cross-Gender Resemblance, Tashabbuh, Hadith Literature, Taghyir Khalq Allah, Major Sin (Kabirah), Prohibition (Hurmah), Intellectual Imperialism.