from the Islamic Focus No. 44 April 2007
Islam is a religion of moderation in all aspects. Nothing illustrates this more clearly than the teachings of Islam regarding clothing.
SIMPLE
Mus’ab bin Umayr (radhiallahu anhu) came from a wealthy family. On accepting Islam he had to renounce all this. One day, the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) saw him wearing a garment of sheep skin and commented, among other things: Allah had brightened Mus’ab radhiallahu anhu’s heart with the light of faith. Simplicty is a sign of a spiritually illuminated heart.
PATCHES
Umar wore clothing with patches. This creates humilty in the heart according to Ali (radhiallahu anhuma).
The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) was wearing a patched sheet and a coarse lungi (sheet worn on the bottom half of the body) when he passed away.
At the same time, Islam does not prohibit one from wearing good clothes. Ibn Umar (radhiallahu anhu) said a person should wear such clothing which will not cause stupid people to regard it with contempt, nor noble people to find it repugnant.
PROHIBITED
Islamic laws forbid one from wearing clothes to boast or with pride. Nor should clothes be against Islamic laws of decency, or in emulation of a distinctly unIslamic style. Nor can men imitate women and vice versa.
As long as these laws are not flouted, one is allowed to wear even expensive clothes. A Hadith tells us that: Allah is Beautiful, and He loves beauty. Allah loves to see His servants benefitting from the bounties He conferred upon them.
EXPENSIVE
A well to do Sahabi was dressed shabbily and the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said that he should express the bounty Allah had given him. Allah loves to see His servants utilising the bounties He bestowed upon them without being boastful.
Ibn Masood always wore fine garments and used expensive perfume. Uthman once wore a sheet worth 100 dirhams. Abdur Rahmaan bin Awf had a set of clothing worth 5 or 6 hundred dirhams. Ibn Abbaas (radhiallahu anhum) wore a garment worth 1000 dirhams. The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) always wore elegant garments when receiving a delegation. He wore beautiful clothes for Eid and Fridays. This is a microcosm of all aspects of life: Be mainly simple, use the best when occasion demands and you have the means, and at all times remember not to have pride or arrogance. Allah has made good things permissible. Abstain from spending on prohibited items and rather use your wealth on the best of permissible things.
