Adab al-Mufrad

Benefits and Issues:
➊ Imam Bukhari rahimahullah has brought this narration under the chapter of “Good conduct with a polytheist father,” even though it mentions a brother and not a father. From this, it is understood that showing kindness to the relatives of the father is akin to maintaining ties of kinship (silat ar-rahm) with the father himself, which is also supported by another hadith. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said:
((Whoever wishes to maintain ties with his father in his grave, let him maintain ties with his father’s brothers after him.)) (Sahih al-Targhib, Hadith: 2506)
If encouragement is given to maintain ties with the father’s brothers (who are a person’s paternal uncles) after the father’s death, then his children (a person’s brothers) are even more deserving of this, because they are closer to both the father and oneself.

➋ The Companions radi Allahu anhum had intense love for the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and liked that his clothing be of the finest quality. If they had the means, they would themselves present gifts to the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, as one of his companions did by presenting white garments as a gift to him and to Sayyiduna Abu Bakr radi Allahu anhu on the journey of migration. If Sayyiduna Umar radi Allahu anhu could have purchased it himself, he would certainly have bought it and presented it to the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.

➌ On Fridays and on the arrival of guests and the like, one should wear the best clothes, as is evident from Sayyiduna Umar radi Allahu anhu’s suggestion to the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, “that you wear it on Fridays and on the arrival of delegations.”

➍ If Allah the Exalted has provided means, it is permissible to wear expensive clothing, provided that the intention is not showing off or arrogance, but rather to express gratitude for Allah’s blessing. The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam refused to purchase it because it was made of silk, as silk and gold are forbidden for Muslim men to use. The reason for not purchasing it was not its high price.

➎ The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam also used to give gifts to his companions. This increases love. Since the scholars are the inheritors of the Prophets, they too should, according to their means, give gifts to the public. Likewise, it is also understood that it is permissible to give as a gift something whose use is not permissible for the giver, but the recipient may then gift it to someone for whom its use is permissible, as Sayyiduna Ali radi Allahu anhu distributed his silk cloak, which he had received as a gift, among the women of his family. Or, he may sell it and benefit from its proceeds. However, it is not permissible to give something haram, such as alcohol, as a gift even to a disbeliever.

➏ Sayyiduna Umar radi Allahu anhu gave the gift to his brother with the same intention with which the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam had given it to Umar—not with the intention that the use of silk is permissible for a polytheist. This would be encouraging a disbeliever to oppose Islam. Although the words in the hadith are “to sell it or to clothe someone with it,” the meaning of kasā yaksoo can also simply be “to give,” as in another place in Bukhari (886), where the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said to Umar radi Allahu anhu: “I did not give it to you for you to wear it yourself.”

➐ Whether disbelievers are bound by Islamic rulings or not is a disputed issue; its clarification will come under the explanation of the next hadith, number 71.

➑ Shaykh al-Albani rahimahullah, in his commentary on al-Adab al-Mufrad, has written under this hadith, quoting Imam Nawawi rahimahullah, that this hadith shows that someone of lower rank can remind someone of higher rank, and a follower can remind a leader of something in which there is benefit for him and which he may have forgotten (as Sayyiduna Umar radi Allahu anhu reminded the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam about the cloak).
Likewise, it is also understood that buying and selling near the door of the mosque is permissible. Shaykh al-Albani rahimahullah states that Imam Nawawi rahimahullah deduced this from the narrations of Bukhari and Muslim, in which it is mentioned that the cloak was being sold at the door of the mosque. However, this is permissible only when it does not cause noise in the mosque or disturb the worshippers.

➒ One should maintain ties of kinship even with disbelieving relatives, especially when there is hope for their acceptance of Islam. However, heartfelt friendship should be reserved only for believers.