Traditionally, the Shia wear black clothes in the month of Muharram. In fact, during this month, it is considered  Mustahab (highly recommended) to do so. We find most Shia do wear black in certain parts of the year, including the Shia priests (scholarship) andMaraje’ (high scholars). In fact, the Shia Ayatollahs tend to wear black year-round, and very rarely do we see them not wearing black cloaks.

Herein we find a contradiction in the Shia faith. According to the authentic Shia Hadith, wearing black clothes is actually Haraam (forbidden)! We see the following Hadith referenced on the reliable Shia website, Al-Shia.com:

Amir-ul-mu’minin said:

وقال أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام فيما علم أصحابه: ” لا تلبسوا السواد فإنه لباس فرعون “.

(Source: Al-Shia.com, http://www.al-shia.com/html/ara/books/faqih/faqih-1/a41.html)

Imam As Sadiq was asked about pray in the black clothes, he said:

وسئل الصادق عليه السلام ” عن الصلاة في القلنسوة السوداء؟ فقال: لا تصل فيها فإنها لباس أهل…