Short answer
Not in public. A crop top shows the stomach and back, which a woman covers in front of non-mahram men and, in the Hanafi school, in front of mahram men like her father and brothers too. She may wear one for her husband. Among other women it does not expose her awrah, which runs from navel to knee, though modest dress is still better. The Shafi'i school is more lenient with mahrams.
Before non-mahram men a woman covers all but her face, hands and feet. Before mahram men her back and stomach are still awrah, so a crop top is not allowed in front of them. Before Muslim women her awrah is from the navel to the knees, and with her husband there is no restriction.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- Mahram men may see everything except what is between the navel and the knees, so a crop top in front of a father or brother does not expose the awrah, though modesty is still advised.
Explanation
The Quran tells believing women not to display their adornment except to their husbands, close male relatives and other women. The Prophet ﷺ warned of women who are "clothed yet naked", whose clothes do not truly cover them. A crop top leaves the midriff, and often the lower back, uncovered.
In public. In front of non-mahram men a woman covers everything except her face, hands and feet in the Hanafi school. A crop top, even under an open jacket, is not allowed outside or in mixed company. See the hijab guide and the awrah guide.
At home with family. The Hanafi books let mahram men such as a father, brother or son see a woman's head, face, upper arms, shins and upper chest, but not her back or stomach. So a crop top is not worn in front of them either. A longer top over leggings, or a crop top with high-waisted trousers that leave no gap, solves this.
Among women and with your husband. A woman's awrah in front of other Muslim women is from the navel to the knees, so a crop top in an all-female space does not expose the awrah. Scholars still advise modest dress there, since bare-midriff fashion is built around display. With your husband there are no limits.
Men. Crop tops for men are a women's style, so men should avoid them; see men wearing women's clothes.
The evidence
Quran, Surah An-Noor 24:31
وَقُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنَٰتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَٰرِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا ۖ وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَىٰ جُيُوبِهِنَّ ۖ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ ءَابَآئِهِنَّ أَوْ ءَابَآءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَآئِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَآءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ إِخْوَٰنِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِىٓ إِخْوَٰنِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِىٓ أَخَوَٰتِهِنَّ أَوْ نِسَآئِهِنَّ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَٰنُهُنَّ أَوِ ٱلتَّٰبِعِينَ غَيْرِ أُو۟لِى ٱلْإِرْبَةِ مِنَ ٱلرِّجَالِ أَوِ ٱلطِّفْلِ ٱلَّذِينَ لَمْ يَظْهَرُوا۟ عَلَىٰ عَوْرَٰتِ ٱلنِّسَآءِ ۖ وَلَا يَضْرِبْنَ بِأَرْجُلِهِنَّ لِيُعْلَمَ مَا يُخْفِينَ مِن زِينَتِهِنَّ ۚ وَتُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ﴿٣١﴾
And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests and not expose their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their women, that which their right hands possess, or those male attendants having no physical desire, or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed.
Lists who may see a woman's adornment.
Quran, Surah Al-A'raaf 7:26
يَٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ قَدْ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ لِبَاسًۭا يُوَٰرِى سَوْءَٰتِكُمْ وَرِيشًۭا ۖ وَلِبَاسُ ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌۭ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ ءَايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ ﴿٢٦﴾
O children of Adam, We have bestowed upon you clothing to conceal your private parts and as adornment. But the clothing of righteousness - that is best. That is from the signs of Allah that perhaps they will remember.
Clothing is meant to cover first and beautify second.
Sahih Muslim 2128
Sahih... ونساء كاسيات عاريات مميلات مائلات ...
"...and women who are clothed yet naked, swaying and making others sway."
A warning about clothes that leave the body on show.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Karahiyya, section on looking and touching. A man may look at his mahram's face, head, chest, shins and upper arms, not her back, stomach or thighs.
- Minhaj al-Talibin, Kitab al-Nikah, on looking. The Shafi'i view that a mahram may see all but what is between navel and knee.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.