Fatwa ID: 08941
Answered by Maulana Iqtidar Ahmed
Question:
Assalamu alaikum
My question is there is a hadith:
Mu’adh ibn Anas reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever gives up fine clothes due to humility for the sake of Allah, even though he is able to wear them, then Allah will call him on the Day of Resurrection in front of all creation that he may choose any garment of faith he desires to wear.”
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2481
What does it mean? Does it mean not to wear expensive or beautiful clothes? If yes, there is another hadith where a Sahaba asked ‘I want my clothes and shoes to look good’, then is it pride? Then the Prophet pbuh said ‘Allah is beautiful and loves beauty’ and in another other the Prophet pbuh said ‘Allah wants to see His blessings on the person’, I am finding it difficult and contradictory.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
The meaning of the first hadith about giving up fine clothes due to humility is regarding avoiding israaf (overly expensive clothing), or wearing clothes out of arrogance (for humility, avoiding prestige and choosing simplicity for Allah), not about simply nice-looking clothing.
The second hadith is relating to general beauty, which one is allowed to wear clothing which looks nice, without trying to show off or being arrogant, and that wearing nice clothes by itself is not considered arrogance [1]. Thus beautiful clothing itself is permissible and arrogance relating to the heart is that which prohibits it.
Only Allah ﷻ knows best.
Written by Maulana Iqtidar Ahmed
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References:
[1]
يُحِبُّ أَنْ يَكُونَ ثَوْبُهُ حَسَنًا وَنَعْلُهُ حَسَنًا) أَيْ: مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يُرَاعِيَ نَظَرَ الْخَلْقِ وَمَا يَتَرَتَّبُ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْكِبْرِ وَالْخُيَلَاءِ وَالسُّمْعَةِ وَالرِّيَاءِ، وَعَلَامَةُ صِدْقِهِ أَنْ يُحِبَّ ذَلِكَ أَيْضًا فِي الْخَلَاءِ، ثُمَّ النَّعْلُ مَا وُقِيَتْ بِهِ الْقَدَمُ، وَهِيَ مُؤَنَّثَةٌ جَمَاعِيَّةٌ. ذَكَرَهَا ابْنُ الْحَاجِبِ فِي رِسَالَتِهِ فِيمَا يَجِبُ تَأْنِيثُهُ
Al-Mulla Ali Al-Qari, Mirqat Al-Mafatih, vol 8, p.3189, Kitab Al-Adab (Dar Al-Fikr).