Nasai

(1) The status and rank of the Ahl al-Bayt is very lofty and exalted. For them, certain things were deemed inappropriate which were permissible for ordinary Muslims. Every wife can demand maintenance and similar rights from her husband, but the Mothers of the Believers (azwaj mutahharat) were prohibited from making any such demands. They were warned of a double punishment for any mistake, while their reward for good deeds is also doubled. Allah the Exalted says:

﴿يَا نِسَاءَ النَّبِيِّ مَنْ يَأْتِ مِنْكُنَّ بِفَاحِشَةٍ مُبَيِّنَةٍ يُضَاعَفْ لَهَا الْعَذَابُ ضِعْفَيْنِ وَكَانَ ذَلِكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ يَسِيرًا وَمَنْ يَقْنُتْ مِنْكُنَّ لِلَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَتَعْمَلْ صَالِحًا نُؤْتِهَا أَجْرَهَا مَرَّتَيْنِ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لَهَا رِزْقًا كَرِيمًا﴾ (Surah al-Ahzab 30, 31:33)

“O wives of the Prophet! Whoever among you commits a clear indecency, the punishment for her will be doubled, and that is easy for Allah. And whoever among you is devoutly obedient to Allah and His Messenger and does righteous deeds, We will give her reward twice over, and We have prepared for her a noble provision.”

The aforementioned hadith is also specific to the Ahl al-Bayt, in that they were prohibited from wearing jewelry and silk, whereas for other women, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam explicitly stated:

(أُحِلَّ الذَّهَبُ والحريرُ لإناثِ أمَّتي، وحُرِّمَ على ذُكورِها)

“Gold and silk have been made lawful for the women of my ummah, and unlawful for its men.” (Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi, al-Libas, Hadith: 1720; Sunan al-Nasa’i, al-Zinah, Chapter: The Prohibition of Gold for Men, Hadith: 5151)

Another interpretation is that wearing (these items) is permissible, but displaying them is disliked.

(2) Regarding this blessed hadith, the strongest likelihood is that it is specific to the Mothers of the Believers, the wives of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. However, it is also befitting and appropriate for Muslim women that, aspiring to be adorned with the jewelry of Paradise and to be delighted with the silk of Paradise, they should, following the example of the pure wives radi Allahu anhunna, avoid as much as possible adorning themselves with gold and silk in this world. Although silk and gold are permissible and lawful for Muslim women, the higher resolve (azimah) and preference (istihbab) is that one should, as far as possible, remain cautious regarding worldly adornment and beautification.