Etiquette related to dressing

Etiquette related to dressing

A Muslim acknowledges that Allah has ordered him to wear clothing in the verse (which means):"O Children of Adam! Take your adornment (by wearing your clean clothes) while praying and going round the Ka'bah, and eat and drink but waste not by extravagance. Certainly, He (Allah) likes not the extravagant."[Quran 7:31]

Clothing is also a bounty from Allah, as He Says (what means): "O Children of Adam! We have bestowed raiment upon you to cover yourselves (screen your private parts) and as an adornment. And the raiment of righteousness is best..."[Quran 7:26]
Allah also Says (what means): "And We taught him the making of metal coats of mail (for battles), to protect you in fighting. Will you then not be grateful?”[Quran 21:80]
Allah's Messenger  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) (may Allah exalt his mention) also ordered such in his statement: "Eat, drink, dress and give in charity without extravagance or arrogance." [Al-Bukhari]
Therefore, Allah's Messenger  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) made clear what type of clothing is permissible and what is impermissible. He also showed what is preferred for a Muslim to wear and what is disliked. Therefore, a Muslim should adhere to the following etiquette with respect to dress:
1. A Muslim (man) should not wear silk on his clothing, head covering or anything else except what has been legislated in extreme cases like skin diseases etc. This is because Allah's Messenger  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) stated: "Do not wear silk, for the one who wears it in this world will not wear it in the Hereafter."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
2. A man’s garment, pants, head covering or cloak should not be so long as to go below the ankles. This prohibition is based on the statement of Allah's Messenger  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) that: "What goes below the ankles of the waist-cloth will be punished in the Hell fire." [Al-Bukhari]
Allah's Messenger  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) also said: "The one who lengthens the cloak, shirt and turban out of pride will not be looked at with approval on the Day of Resurrection." [An-Nasaa’i]
Allah's Messenger  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) also said: "Allah does not look at the one who lowers his garment out of arrogance." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

3. Though all colors are permissible to wear, a Muslim should give preference to white clothing over other colors. Allah's Messenger  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) said:
"Wear white clothing for it is purer and better. And shroud your deceased in (white)." [An-Nasaa’i]
4. A Muslim woman should lower her garment until it fully covers her feet. She should also draw down her head covering so that it covers her neck and chest. Allah has Said (what means): "O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies."[Quran 33:59]
Allah also Says (what means): "(And tell the believing women to) draw their veils all over their faces, necks and bosoms and not to reveal their adornment except' to their husbands, their fathers..."[Quran 24:31]
'Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, stated regarding the above-mentioned verse: "May Allah have mercy on the women who migrated from Makkah to Al-Madeenah. When Allah revealed this verse: ‘And tell the believing women to draw their veils all over their faces, necks and bosoms’, they tore apart their thick woolen garments and wore them as head coverings."
A Muslim male should not wear gold. Allah's Messenger  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) said about gold and silk: “These are forbidden for the males of my Nation.” [Abu Daawood]
Allah's Messenger  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) also said: "Wearing silk and gold has been forbidden for the males of my Nation and is permissible for its females."[At-Tirmithi]
Allah's Messenger  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) saw a man wearing a gold ring and he took it off his finger and threw it aside, saying: "One of you takes a burning coal of fire and puts it on his hand." After Allah's Messenger  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) left, it was said to the man: ‘Take your ring and benefit from it. (i.e. sell it and use its price).’ He replied: ‘No, by Allah, I will never take it after Allah's Messenger  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) threw it away.’" [Muslim]
5. There is no harm in a Muslim male having a silver ring or engraving his name on it to use it as adornment or as a type of engraving stamp for his letters or books, or as a kind of signature. Allah's Messenger  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) used to have a silver ring that had engraved on it, "Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah" and he used to wear it on the little finger of his left hand. Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, stated: "The ring of Allah's Messenger  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) was on this" and he pointed to the little finger of his left hand.[Muslim]
6. A person should not wrap himself completely with a large garment in such a way that he cannot get his hands out of it. Allah's Messenger  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) has prohibited such a manner of dress.
 
Similarly, a person should not walk wearing only one shoe. Allah's Messenger  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) said:
"You should not walk wearing one shoe only. Either walk barefoot or wear both of them together." [Al-Bukhari]
7. A Muslim man is not allowed to wear the dress of a woman and a Muslim woman is not allowed to wear the dress of a man.
Allah's Messenger  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) stated: "Allah curses the effeminate men and the masculine women." [Al-Bukhari]
He  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) also said: "Allah curses the man who wears women's clothing and the woman who wears men's clothing. He also curses the men who imitate women and the women who imitate men." [Al-Bukhari]
8. When a person puts on his shoes, it is recommended to begin with the right foot. And when he takes them off, it is recommended to take off the left shoe first. This is based on the Prophet's statement: "If one of you puts on his shoes, let him begin with the right. And when he takes them off, he should begin with the left." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
9. When a person puts on any clothing, he should begin from the right side. Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, stated: "Allah's Messenger  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) loved to begin with the right in all his matters, in putting on his shoes, in combing his hair and in purifying himself."[Muslim]

10. Upon wearing a new garment or any new clothing, the person should say:
"O Allah, to You is the Praise. You are the One Who clothed me by it. I ask You for its good and the good of what it was made for. And I seek refuge in You from its evil and the evil of what it was made for." [Abu Daawood]
11. A Muslim should pray for his Muslim brother when he sees him wearing new clothes by saying: "May you wear it until it disintegrates and falls apart (that is, for a long, blessed time)." [Al-Bukhari]
Allah's Messenger  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) made that supplication when he saw, Umm Khaalid, may Allah be pleased with her, wearing new clothing. [Al-Bukhari]

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