Short answer
Yes, trousers made for women are allowed. The issues are tightness and exposure: in public, pants or jeans must be loose or covered by a long top or abaya so the shape of the body does not show. Shorts that show the thighs are not allowed, even among women. At home with your husband, anything goes.
Trousers in a women's cut are permitted. Clothing that shows the shape of the body in front of non-mahram men is not permitted, and dress that is specific to men is haram for women. The thighs are awrah in front of everyone except the husband, so shorts above the knee are not allowed even among women.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
Women in many Muslim cultures have worn trousers for centuries, such as the shalwar of South Asia. So pants are not men's clothing in themselves. The Prophet ﷺ cursed a man who wears a woman's clothing and a woman who wears a man's clothing; that applies when a garment is specifically men's in style or cut. He also warned of women who are clothed yet naked, meaning clothes that cover the skin but display the body.
How this works:
- In public: loose trousers are fine. Fitted pants or jeans need a long top, tunic or abaya over them that reaches below the hips, so the shape of the legs and hips is not on display.
- Skinny jeans or leggings alone in public: not allowed.
- Among women and mahrams: fitted trousers are allowed, as long as you are not displaying yourself.
- Shorts: in front of anyone but your husband, the knees must be covered. Long shorts covering the knee are fine among women.
- Men's cuts: avoid clothing designed and worn as men's wear.
For praying in pants, see can a woman pray in pants. For the full limits of covering, see awrah for men and women and the hijab guide.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Ahzaab 33:59
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ قُل لِّأَزْوَٰجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَآءِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِن جَلَٰبِيبِهِنَّ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَدْنَىٰٓ أَن يُعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورًۭا رَّحِيمًۭا ﴿٥٩﴾
O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.
An outer garment over the clothes keeps the shape of the body covered in public.
Sunan Abi Dawud 4098
Graded sahih... لعن رسول الله الرجل يلبس لبسة المرأة والمرأة تلبس لبسة الرجل ...
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ cursed the man who wears women's clothing and the woman who wears men's clothing."
Women's trousers are fine; men's clothing is not.
Sahih Muslim 2128
Sahih... نساء كاسيات عاريات مميلات مائلات ...
"Women who are clothed yet naked, who lead others astray and are led astray."
Tight clothing that shows the body does not meet the purpose of covering.
Where the ruling is recorded
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Salah, conditions of prayer, covering the awrah. Clothing so tight that it shows the shape of the awrah is disliked in prayer and not permitted before non-mahram men.
- al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya, Kitab al-Karahiyya, chapter on clothing. Imitating the dress of the opposite sex is forbidden.
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.