Surah Al-A'raaf (7) — Ayah 32

(Ayah 32) {قُلْ مَنْ حَرَّمَ زِيْنَةَ اللّٰهِ …… :} In this verse, by {’’ زِيْنَةَ اللّٰهِ ‘‘} is meant fine clothing and all those things by which a person attains beauty and elegance, and by {’’ الطَّيِّبٰتِ ‘‘} is meant fine types of delicious foods. In this verse, there is a strong refutation of those people who consider abandoning the use of Allah’s blessings as asceticism, and who think that eating inferior food and wearing inferior clothing is great piety. It is also a refutation of those Sufis who, along with prescribing self-invented practices, prohibit eating anything from living beings or anything derived from them, such as milk, ghee, and honey, and have named this the abandonment of animal products, both jalali and jamali, which is actually the religion of Hindu sadhus and yogis; there is no room for this in Islam. Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “When Allah bestows a blessing upon His servant, He likes that its effect be seen on him.” [ ترمذی، الأدب، باب ما جاء أن اﷲ یحب…… : ۲۸۱۹، و صححہ الألبانی ] Shah Abdul Qadir (may Allah have mercy on him) writes: “That is, he should not spend on forbidden things; otherwise, all eating and drinking is permissible, whatever is a blessing has been created for the Muslim; in this world, the disbeliever also shares in it, but in the Hereafter, it is only for them.” See also Surah Al-Ahqaf (20).

32. 1. Just as the polytheists had declared wearing clothes during Tawaf as undesirable, in the same way, they also made lawful things forbidden upon themselves as a means of seeking nearness to Allah, and they also considered many lawful things forbidden due to dedicating them to their idols. Allah Almighty said that He has created (for example, clothes, etc.) and good things to eat for the adornment of people. Although the disbelievers also benefit and take advantage of them, and sometimes they even appear more successful than Muslims in acquiring worldly things and comforts, but this is incidental and temporary, in which is Allah Almighty’s creative will and wisdom. However, on the Day of Resurrection, these blessings will be only for the people of faith, because just as Paradise will be forbidden for the disbelievers, in the same way, food and drink will also be forbidden for them.

Say, "Who has forbidden the adornment and pure provisions that Allah has produced for His servants?" [31] Say, "They are for those who believe during the life of this world, and on the Day of Resurrection, they will be exclusively for them." Thus We explain the signs clearly for people who have knowledge.

[31]
The Condemnation of Renouncing the World:

Allah Almighty has created clothing, adornment, and all lawful foods and drinks for the benefit of His servants. Now, those people who wear coarse clothes, eat minimal food, renounce the pleasures of the world, engage in spiritual exercises at night, and avoid marriage thinking that these are obstacles to their spiritual progress—there is no room in Islam for such a concept of spiritual progress. In Islam, the path to spiritual elevation is not at all dependent on renouncing the world; rather, this path continues through fulfilling worldly affairs in the best manner, in which both the body and the soul are nurtured. And those who seek spiritual progress by adopting the way of renunciation of the world—these restrictions have not been imposed by Allah at all; they are self-imposed. Allah wants that the effects of the favors He has bestowed upon a person should be evident in his lifestyle. In this regard, consider the following hadith: It is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas ؓ that three men (Amr bin Aas ؓ, Ali ؓ, and Uthman bin Maz'un ؓ) came near the houses of the wives of the Prophet ﷺ and asked the pure wives about the worship of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. When they were informed about his worship, they considered it insufficient and said: "Where are we and where is the Prophet ﷺ? All his past and future mistakes have been forgiven." Then one of them said: "I will always stand in prayer all night." The second said: "I will always fast and never break my fast." The third said: "I will keep away from women and never marry." Meanwhile, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ also arrived and was informed of their conversation. He ﷺ said to them, "Are you the ones who said such and such? Listen! By Allah, I am the one who fears Allah the most among you and is the most pious, but I fast and I break my fast, I pray at night and I sleep, and I also marry women. So whoever turns away from my Sunnah (way) has nothing to do with me." [بخاري، كتاب النكاح، باب الترغيب فى النكاح]

[32] Because those who show gratitude to Allah for His blessings are the truly grateful, and they are worthy of even more blessings. And those who associate others with Allah cannot be entitled to His blessings. However, since this world is a place of trial, Allah also provides sustenance to the ungrateful, and sometimes even more. Nevertheless, in the Hereafter, Allah's blessings will be reserved only for the obedient servants of Allah.