RULES FOR DRESSING FOR JUM'A

This is my little sister, who is a non-muslim, dressed appropriately to go to the Masjid. Styled by Aalia and I. She is wearing a wide assortment of stuff from our closests, including her own old plain black abaya [that she wore with a blue pashmina when she visited the grande mosque in Oman] that I refurbished into the keffiyah one. I think it is funny that my non-muslim sister who has no interest in Islam whatsoever, has more respect in dress and decorum at the masjid (with the exception of her yawning during the khutbahs) than many sisters who think it is okay to let their kids run wild, disturbing the salat, or wearing clothing or perfume or nail polish that invalidates their salats. Below is a pic of J positively boiling in Oman.

1.) For Friday prayer at the Masjid a woman should preform Ghusl (i.e have a bath of shower). 2.) She should not perfume herself because the woman who wears perfume to the masjid, her salat is not accepted of her until she goes home and washes it off, and then continues her prayer.
3.) She should make sure her breath is fresh smelling since she does not want her breath to offend the angels or others of the ummah congregation. The Prophet sallalahu alahi wa salaam advised us to refrain from eating food this day that might make our breath smell anything but sweet.

4.) If her masjid is actually a women's side (musalla) not connected to the building of the masjid proper itself, she may attend to listen to the khutbah and since she is not praying, she has no issue with nail polish [this is the ONLY situation when such a thing is halal]. The woman who IS praying cannot wear nail polish because it invalidates her wudu.
5.) She should put on her cleanest, nicest clothes (the Prophet sallalahu alahi wa salaam used to put aside his best garment and only wear it on fridays) and remember and thank Allah subhanhu wa ta'ala who provided those clothes with no effort or might from the person wearing them, praising and thanking Allah.6.) The woman should then put on a clean jilbab that is a good piece of clothing but nothing ostentatious since the Prophet sallalahu alahi wa salaam said no woman should leave her house without wearing this garment and if she does not have one, her sisters in Islam should loan or provide her with one so she may attend. If one is a brand spanking new practicing sister, don't worry about this, but remind the community to provide you with a jilbab should you have need of one. Her hair, neck, ears, and chest should be covered by her khimar appropriately and she should have no images of living things on her person or her salat will not be accepted.7.) The sister has carefully remembered to put together her appearence so it is pleasing to Allah subhanhu wa ta'ala and her sisters in Islam. Let her not forget to ask for Allah's protection when leaving her home; "In the name of Allah, I place my trust in Allah, and there is no might or power but with Allah."
8.) Since the Prophet sallalahu alahi wa salaam has said it is beneficial for women to attend the Masjid so that they might listen to the khutbah, but best is their salat when they pray at home, let a woman examine her true intentions for going to Jum'a by reciting this du'a (supplication) as she hastens to the Masjid [on time BEFORE THE KHUTBAH, leaving behind anything that will be distracting to others including children that cannot be quiet or herself if she cannot]: "O Allah, place within my heart light, and upon my tongue light, and within my ears light, and within my eyes light, and place behind me light and in front of me light and beneath me light. O Allah, bestow upon me light." The request for light by the Prophet sallalahu alahi wa salaam is a metaphor of seeking wisdom and guidance from the visit to the Masjid.