islam requires that its believers wear clothes that show modesty. as a result, both men and women must follow this rule when they attend a mosque (though mosques may not always enforce the rules). men are supposed to come to the mosque wearing loose and clean clothes that do not show the shape of the body. similarly, women who come to the mosque are expected to wear loose clothing, shirts, pants that cover to the wrists and ankles and cover their heads such as with a hijab. many muslims, regardless of their ethnic background, wear middle eastern clothing associated with arabic islam to special occasions and prayers at mosques.