(292) Chapter: Prohibition for Men and Women apeing one another

Ibn 'Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) said:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) cursed those men who are effeminate, and women who imitate men.

Another narration is: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) cursed men who copy women and cursed women who copy men.

[Al-Bukhari].

Commentary: Mukhannath (hermaphrodite) is a man who dresses himself like a woman and has an effeminate gait and carriage, while Mutarajjilah is a woman who dresses herself like a man and adopts a masculine style. What we learn from this Hadith is that men and women should stick to their natural qualities and characteristics and strictly avoid the imitation of the opposite sex in appearance as well as conduct. Those who violate their nature have been strongly cursed. Women who are influenced by western philosophies and thoughts and try to adopt all those professions which are special for men, fall in this category. Allah has not entrusted them with those responsibilities which are marked for men only. It is a pity that out of sheer imprudence and blind imitation of the West, Muslim women are now adopting the western lifestyle in all walks of life. Such blind imitation has led many astray and is bound to bring Allah's Wrath upon the transgressors.