Sunnats and Aadaab of Clothing – Part 4

1. A man’s clothing (i.e. kurta, pants, lungi, etc.) should not flow beneath the ankles. Grave warnings have been sounded in the Mubaarak Ahaadith for the one who allows his garments to flow beneath his ankles.^[1]

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: ما أسفل من الكعبين من الإزار ففي النار (صحيح البخاري، الرقم: ٥٤٥٠)

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “That portion of the lower garment which hangs beneath the ankles will be in the fire of Jahannum.”

عن أبي ذر عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: ثلاثة لا يكلمهم الله يوم القيامة ولا ينظر إليهم ولا يزكيهم ولهم عذاب أليم قال: فقرأها رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ثلاث مرارا قال أبو ذر: خابوا وخسروا من هم يا رسول الله؟ قال: المسبل والمنان والمنفق سلعته بالحلف الكاذب (صحيح مسلم، الرقم:١٧١)

Hazrat Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Hazrat Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Three types of people are such that Allah Ta‘ala will not speak to them on the day of Qiyaamah, nor will He look at them with the sight of mercy, nor will He purify and cleanse them of their sins, and a severe punishment awaits them.” Hazrat Abu Zarr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) exclaimed, “Certainly such people are great losers and are doomed! Who are these people, O Rasul of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)?” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied, “The one who lets his garment flow beneath his ankles, the one who (after doing a favour to people,) reminds them of his favours, and the one who takes false oaths when marketing and advertising his merchandise (i.e. he takes false oaths and lies to people about the quality of the merchandise, etc.).”

2. Men should wear long-sleeve kurtas. It is inappropriate to wear short-sleeve kurtas in public.

عن أسماء بنت يزيد بن السكن الأنصارية قالت: كان كم يد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إلى الرسغ (سنن الترمذي، الرقم: ١٧٦٥، وقال: هذا حديث حسن غريب)

Hazrat Asmaa bint Yazeed (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports, “The sleeves of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would reach till the wrists.”

3. Men should avoid wearing bright and shining colour material that resemble the colours of women’s clothing e.g. saffron colours, pink etc.^[2]

عن عبد الله بن عمرو بن العاص قال: رآني رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال أبو علي اللؤلؤي: أراه وعلي ثوب مصبوغ بعصفر مورد فقال: ما هذا؟ فانطلقت فأحرقته فقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: ما صنعت بثوبك؟ فقلت: أحرقته قال: أفلا كسوته بعض أهلك (سنن أبي داود، الرقم: ٤٠٦٨)^[3]

Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr bin Aas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports: On one occasion, we descended into a valley with Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) turned to me while I was wearing a cloth which was dyed with a yellow-coloured dye. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) asked me, “Why are you wearing this garment?” I perceived that he disliked the clothing I was wearing (and was displeased), so I went to my family while they were lighting the oven and I cast the garment (into the oven and burnt it). The following day, when I went to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), he asked me, “O Abdullah, what did you do with your garment?” I informed him what I had done with it, to which he said, “Why did you not give it to one of the women in your family? There is no problem in women wearing this type of clothing.”

4. A male should wear trousers or a lungi beneath his kurta. He should avoid wearing shorts or jammies (three-quarter shorts) under the kurta, as this type of clothing does not conform to the way of the pious.^[4]

5. It is preferable for one to wear white clothing as the Hadith explains that white clothing is the best.^[5]

عن ابن عباس قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: البسوا من ثيابكم البياض فإنها من خير ثيابكم وكفنوا فيها موتاكم (سنن الترمذي، الرقم: ٩٩٤، وقال: حديث حسن صحيح)^[6]

Hazrat Ibnu Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) reports that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Wear white clothing, for indeed it is the best of clothing, and enshroud your deceased in it.”

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[1] وإسبال الإزار والقميص بدعة ينبغي أن يكون الإزار فوق الكعبين إلى نصف الساق وهذا في حق الرجال (الفتاوى الهندية ٣٣٣/٥)

[2] كل لباس يكون على خلاف السنة يكون لبسه مكروها وهو مثل أثواب الكفار وأثواب الفسق والفجور وأهل الاشر والبطر (النتف في الفتاوى ٢٥٠/١)

[3] والحديث ليس في إسناده إلا عمرو بن شعيب وقد حسن حديثه جماعة من الأئمة، كذا في فتح الغفار الجامع لأحكام سنة نبينا المختار ٢٤٦/١

[4] كل لباس يكون على خلاف السنة يكون لبسه مكروها وهو مثل أثواب الكفار وأثواب الفسق والفجور وأهل الاشر والبطر (النتف في الفتاوى ٢٥٠/١)

(والقطن عندي أفضل) أي من الكتان لأنه لباس الصالحين (منحة السلوك في شرح تحفة الملوك صـ ٤٧٩)

[5] (ويستحب) الثوب (الأبيض والأسود) (مجمع الأنهر ٥٣٢/٢)