سُوْرَةُ الْاَعْرَافِ
Surah Al-A'raaf (7) — Ayah 26
يَـٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ قَدْ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ لِبَاسًا يُوَٰرِى سَوْءَٰتِكُمْ وَرِيشًا ۖ وَلِبَاسُ ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ ﴿26﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
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, that is better. Such are among the Ayât (proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allâh, that they may remember (i.e. leave falsehood and follow truth).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
يَـٰبَنِىٓ
yābanī
O Children
ءَادَمَ
ādama
(of) Adam
قَدْ
qad
Verily
أَنزَلْنَا
anzalnā
We have sent down
عَلَيْكُمْ
ʿalaykum
to you
لِبَاسًۭا
libāsan
clothing
يُوَٰرِى
yuwārī
it covers
سَوْءَٰتِكُمْ
sawātikum
your shame
وَرِيشًۭا ۖ
warīshan
and (as) an adornment
وَلِبَاسُ
walibāsu
But the clothing
ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ
l-taqwā
(of) [the] righteousness
ذَٰلِكَ
dhālika
that
خَيْرٌۭ ۚ
khayrun
(is) best
ذَٰلِكَ
dhālika
That
مِنْ
min
(is) from
ءَايَـٰتِ
āyāti
(the) Signs
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
لَعَلَّهُمْ
laʿallahum
so that they may
يَذَّكَّرُونَ
yadhakkarūna
remember
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 26) ➊ {يٰبَنِيْۤ اٰدَمَ قَدْ اَنْزَلْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ لِبَاسًا:} means He sent down water from the sky, from which cotton grows, silk and woolen materials are provided, then He taught you the way of agriculture, planting trees, animal husbandry, weaving cloth, and making other things. Raghib said that here {’’اَنْزَلَ‘‘} means {’’ خَلَقَ ‘‘}, as in: «وَ اَنْزَلْنَا الْحَدِيْدَ » [ الحدید : ۲۵ ] “And We sent down iron.” Shah Abdul Qadir (may Allah have mercy on him) writes: “That is, the enemy made you take off the garments of Paradise, then We taught you the means of clothing in this world.” (Mawdhih)
➋ {يُوَارِيْ سَوْاٰتِكُمْ وَ رِيْشًا:} means the purpose of clothing is to cover the private parts and for adornment. Besides this, it also serves to protect from cold, heat, and injuries, as He said: «وَ جَعَلَ لَكُمْ سَرَابِيْلَ تَقِيْكُمُ الْحَرَّ وَ سَرَابِيْلَ تَقِيْكُمْ بَاْسَكُمْ » [ النحل : ۸۱ ] “And He made for you some garments to protect you from the heat and some garments to protect you in your fighting.”
➌ {وَ لِبَاسُ التَّقْوٰى ذٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ:} means that besides this outward clothing with which you only cover your body or use for adornment, there is another spiritual garment which is better than any clothing, so you should pay attention to it, and that is piety, that is, the garment of fear of Allah, faith, and righteous deeds. Some have said that {’’ لِبَاسُ التَّقْوٰى ‘‘} refers to rough and coarse clothing like woolen khaddar, which Sufi people wear, but this is not correct. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) himself and the righteous predecessors, whose piety was unparalleled, used to wear fine clothes as well as simple clothes despite having means. Some have taken it to mean armor and other military clothing which serves as protection from the enemy. (Qurtubi, Ruh al-Ma’ani) Yes, it is certain that the clothing which has been prohibited should not be worn. Shah Abdul Qadir (may Allah have mercy on him) writes that now wear only that clothing in which there is piety, that is, men should not wear silk (and saffron-colored) clothing, should not keep their garments so long that they cover the ankles, and should not do what is prohibited, and women should not wear very thin (or tight) clothing so that their bodies become visible to people, nor should they display their adornment.
➍ {لَعَلَّهُمْ يَذَّكَّرُوْنَ:} so that they may take heed and value this great blessing of Allah, or take heed and avoid evil deeds.
➋ {يُوَارِيْ سَوْاٰتِكُمْ وَ رِيْشًا:} means the purpose of clothing is to cover the private parts and for adornment. Besides this, it also serves to protect from cold, heat, and injuries, as He said: «وَ جَعَلَ لَكُمْ سَرَابِيْلَ تَقِيْكُمُ الْحَرَّ وَ سَرَابِيْلَ تَقِيْكُمْ بَاْسَكُمْ » [ النحل : ۸۱ ] “And He made for you some garments to protect you from the heat and some garments to protect you in your fighting.”
➌ {وَ لِبَاسُ التَّقْوٰى ذٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ:} means that besides this outward clothing with which you only cover your body or use for adornment, there is another spiritual garment which is better than any clothing, so you should pay attention to it, and that is piety, that is, the garment of fear of Allah, faith, and righteous deeds. Some have said that {’’ لِبَاسُ التَّقْوٰى ‘‘} refers to rough and coarse clothing like woolen khaddar, which Sufi people wear, but this is not correct. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) himself and the righteous predecessors, whose piety was unparalleled, used to wear fine clothes as well as simple clothes despite having means. Some have taken it to mean armor and other military clothing which serves as protection from the enemy. (Qurtubi, Ruh al-Ma’ani) Yes, it is certain that the clothing which has been prohibited should not be worn. Shah Abdul Qadir (may Allah have mercy on him) writes that now wear only that clothing in which there is piety, that is, men should not wear silk (and saffron-colored) clothing, should not keep their garments so long that they cover the ankles, and should not do what is prohibited, and women should not wear very thin (or tight) clothing so that their bodies become visible to people, nor should they display their adornment.
➍ {لَعَلَّهُمْ يَذَّكَّرُوْنَ:} so that they may take heed and value this great blessing of Allah, or take heed and avoid evil deeds.
