The myth that modesty has to mean black

Somewhere along the way, a quiet assumption settled into how many sisters think about modest dressing. That to be properly covered, you had to dress in black. That colour was somehow lighter on faith. That softness or warmth in a palette meant a softness in conviction.

It is worth gently unpacking, because the assumption holds many sisters back from owning clothing they love and feel at home in.

Where the all-black expectation comes from

The association between black and Islamic modesty often comes from specific cultural traditions, particularly in the Gulf, where black abayas became the norm for practical and historical reasons.

It is also rooted in a well-known narration. Umm Salamah, may Allah be pleased with her, said that when the verse "to draw their cloaks all over their bodies" was revealed, the women of the Ansar came out the next morning looking as if there were crows on their heads, because of the dark garments they wore (Sunan Abi Dawud 4101).

This narration is often quoted as evidence that black is the most virtuous colour for a Muslim woman to wear. And many scholars do consider it a praiseworthy choice, especially for outer garments, on the basis of this hadith.

What the scholars actually point to

The requirements of Islamic modest dress are clear and consistent. The clothing should cover what needs to be covered. It should not be tight or transparent. It should not be designed to draw attention to the body or compete with men's clothing.

Colour, on its own, is not part of that list.

The wives and Companions of the Prophet ﷺ are recorded wearing a range of colours. In Sahih al-Bukhari, Aishah (RA) describes a woman coming to her wearing a green veil (Sahih al-Bukhari 5825). The Prophet ﷺ himself wore a variety of garments, including a khamisa with printed markings. The early community was not monochrome.

So while black is honoured and remains a beautiful choice, it has never been the only path to modest dressing.

What is modest depends on where you live

There is a principle in Islamic dressing that often goes unspoken. Modesty is shaped by the society you live in (to a certain extent).

The scholars call this 'urf, meaning custom or norm. The idea is that what counts as modest, unremarkable, or attention-drawing depends on context. A modest woman in seventh-century Madinah dressed differently to a modest woman in modern Istanbul, and both can be sincere in their practice.

This is not a compromise. It is the same principle that has always guided modest dressing. Cover the body, hold the intention, and do not become the focal point of every room you enter.

Choosing colour without compromising coverage

When introducing colour into a modest wardrobe, the same principles still hold. The cut should still be loose and flowing. The fabric should still be opaque. The piece should still allow you to move, pray, and live comfortably.

What changes is only the colour, not the modesty itself.

A final reflection

Wear black when you love it. Wear colour when you feel called to. Read the room you live in, and dress accordingly. The standard of modesty stays the same.

May Allah make our clothing a source of ease, dignity, and remembrance, in every shade we choose to wear.