Book 22: Clothing

Umm Salama said the clothing God’s messenger liked best was a shirt. Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Asma’ daughter of Yazid said the sleeve of God’s messenger’s shirt came to the wrist. Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a hasan gharib tradition.

Abu Huraira said that when God’s messenger put on a shirt he began with the right side. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudrl told that he heard God’s messenger say, "The way for a believer to wear a lower garment is to have it halfway down his legs, and he is guilty of no sin if it comes halfway between that and the ankles, but what comes lower than that is in hell (saying that three times). On the day of resurrection God will not look at him who trails his lower garment conceitedly." Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Salim quoted his father to the effect that the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "If anyone trails arrogantly anything allowed to hang down in a lower garment, a shirt and a turban, God will not look at him on the day of resurrection." Abu Dawud, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Abu Kabsha said the headgear worn by God's messenger's Companions was flat. (It is not clear whether the reference here is to headgear which was low and wide, or to wide sleeves. The former seems to be preferred. Cf. Mirqat, iv, 424.) Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a tradition which is rejected.

When God’s messenger mentioned the lower garment Umm Salama asked what a woman should do and he said she should let it down a span. She replied that in that case she would not be completely covered, and he said she might let it down a cubit, but no more. Malik, Abu Dawud, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it. In the version of Tirmidhi and Nasa’i on the authority of Ibn ‘Umar she said their feet would then be uncovered, and he replied that they should let it down a cubit, but no more.

Mu'awiya b. Qurra quoted his father as saying: I came to the Prophet (ﷺ) with a company of Muzaina who swore allegiance to him, and as his buttons were open I put my hand inside his shirt and felt the seal. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Samura reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, "Wear white clothes, for they are purer and better ; and shroud your dead in them." Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Nasa'i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar told that when God’s messenger put on a turban he let the end hang between his shoulders. Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a hasan gharib tradition.

‘Abd ar-Rahman b. ‘Auf told that God’s messenger put a turban on him and let the ends hang in front of him and behind him. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Rukana reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, “The difference between us and the polytheists is that we wear turbans over caps.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a gharib tradition whose isnad is not reliable.

Abu Musa al-Ash‘ari reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, “Gold and silk are permitted to the females among my people but prohibited to the males.” Tirmidhi and Nasa’i transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a hasan sahih tradition.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri told that when God's messenger put on a new garment he mentioned it by name, turban, shirt, or cloak, and would then say, “O God, praise be to Thee ! As Thou hast clothed me with it, I ask Thee for its good and the good of that for which it was made, and I seek refuge in Thee from its evil and the evil of that for which it was made.” Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Mu'adh b. Anas reported God’s messenger as stating that if anyone eats food and then says, “Praise be to God who has fed me with this food and provided me with it through no might or power on my part,” he will be forgiven his former sins. Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Abu Dawud added that if anyone puts on a garment and says, “Praise be to God who has clothed me with this and provided me with it through no might or power on my part,” he will be forgiven his former and latter sins.

‘A’isha told that God’s messenger said to her, “If you wish to join me, ‘A’isha, be satisfied with worldly things to the extent of a rider’s provision, avoid sitting with the rich, and do not consider a garment worn out till you patch it.” Tirmidhi transmitted it saying this is a gharib tradition which he knew only among the traditions of Salih b. Hassan whose traditions are stated by Muhammad b. Isma'il ( i.e. Bukhari) to be rejected.

Abu Umama lyas b. Tha'laba reported God’s messenger as saying, “Listen, listen! Wearing old clothes is a part of faith, wearing old clothes is a part of faith.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s messenger as saying, “He who wears grand clothes in this world will be made by God to wear humble clothes on the day of resurrection.” Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

He reported God’s messenger as saying, “He who copies any people is one of them.” Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Suwaid b. Wahb quoted a son of a Companion of God’s messenger who said his father reported God’s messenger as saying, “He who gives up wearing beautiful garments when he is able to do so (out of humility, as is stated in a version) will be clothed by God with the robe of honour, and he who marries for God's sake will be crowned by God with the crown of the kingdom.” Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Tirmidhi transmitted the tradition about the clothing on Suwaid’s authority on the authority of Mu'adh b. Anas.

‘ Amr b. Shu'aib, on his father’s authority, told that his grandfather reported God’s messenger as saying, “God likes the mark of His favour to be seen on his servant.” (People whom God has prospered should wear clothes suitable for their station, for the poor may recognise them as people able to give charity. The learned should not conceal their learning, so that others may benefit from it) Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Jabir said God’s messenger came to pay them a visit, and seeing a dishevelled man whose hair was untidy he said, “Could this man not find something to make his hair lie down ?” He saw a man wearing dirty clothes and said, “Could this man not find something to wash his garment with?” Ahmad and Nasa’i transmitted it.

Abul Ahwas quoted his father as saying: I came to God’s messenger wearing a poor garment and he asked me whether I had any property. When I replied that I had, he asked me what kind it was, and I said, "Every kind; God has given me camels, cattle, sheep, horses and slaves.” He then said, “When God gives you property let the mark of His favour and honour to you be seen.” Ahmad and Nasa'i transmitted it. In Sharh as-sunna it has the wording in al-Masabih.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr told that when a man wearing two red garments passed the Prophet (ﷺ) and gave him a greeting he did not respond to his greeting. Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘Imran b. Husain reported God’s Prophet as saying, “I do not ride on purple, or wear a garment dyed with saffron, or wear a shirt hemmed with silk.” He also said, “The perfume used by men should have an odour but no colour, and the perfume used by women should have a colour but no odour.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.