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 Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
O children of Adam! We have sent down to you clothing to cover your nakedness and as an adornment [23]; but the clothing of righteousness is best [24]. This is among the signs of Allah, so that people may take heed.
[23]
The Moral and Physical Benefits of Clothing and the Fundamental Purpose of Clothing:
The meaning of "sending down clothing" is that Adam ؑ was immediately inspired to cover his private parts, and it is possible that this refers to the natural instinct of modesty and shame that has been placed within humans. It may also mean that after Adam ؑ came to earth, it rained, causing cotton or other fibrous plants to grow from the earth, from which they made clothing. Clothing refers to anything that can cover the body, and Allah Almighty has mentioned two benefits of this clothing: one moral and the other physical. The moral benefit is that by covering the private parts, one can avoid indecency, and the physical benefit is that clothing is an adornment for humans and also protects from the effects of cold and heat. Allah Almighty has mentioned the moral benefit first, from which it is understood that the fundamental purpose of clothing is to cover the private parts.
[24]
The Meaning of the Garment of Taqwa:
The meaning of the garment of taqwa is that the clothing should be concealing or covering, not so thin or transparent that, despite wearing it, the contours of the body and the private parts are all visible. Secondly, the clothing should not be luxurious or arrogant, nor should the hem be excessively long, nor should it be of a status lower than one's own or dirty, because all these things are against taqwa. Thirdly, the clothing should not be such that men try to become women by wearing women's clothing, and women try to become men by wearing men's clothing, because this is an insult to their respective genders. Fourthly, one should not abandon their own clothing and adopt the clothing of a ruler or a prominent nation, because adopting the culture and clothing of a prominent nation will not only harm your national identity but will also be evidence of your psychological subjugation to that nation. Fifthly, men should not wear silk clothing. According to some scholars, clothing does not refer only to outer garments, but rather to the entire style and way of life, in which clothing is included—that is, every habit of a person should reflect the color of taqwa. According to them, the word "clothing" is used in a figurative sense, just as the word "veil" is used in "the veil of religious sanctity."
[23]
The Moral and Physical Benefits of Clothing and the Fundamental Purpose of Clothing:
The meaning of "sending down clothing" is that Adam ؑ was immediately inspired to cover his private parts, and it is possible that this refers to the natural instinct of modesty and shame that has been placed within humans. It may also mean that after Adam ؑ came to earth, it rained, causing cotton or other fibrous plants to grow from the earth, from which they made clothing. Clothing refers to anything that can cover the body, and Allah Almighty has mentioned two benefits of this clothing: one moral and the other physical. The moral benefit is that by covering the private parts, one can avoid indecency, and the physical benefit is that clothing is an adornment for humans and also protects from the effects of cold and heat. Allah Almighty has mentioned the moral benefit first, from which it is understood that the fundamental purpose of clothing is to cover the private parts.
[24]
The Meaning of the Garment of Taqwa:
The meaning of the garment of taqwa is that the clothing should be concealing or covering, not so thin or transparent that, despite wearing it, the contours of the body and the private parts are all visible. Secondly, the clothing should not be luxurious or arrogant, nor should the hem be excessively long, nor should it be of a status lower than one's own or dirty, because all these things are against taqwa. Thirdly, the clothing should not be such that men try to become women by wearing women's clothing, and women try to become men by wearing men's clothing, because this is an insult to their respective genders. Fourthly, one should not abandon their own clothing and adopt the clothing of a ruler or a prominent nation, because adopting the culture and clothing of a prominent nation will not only harm your national identity but will also be evidence of your psychological subjugation to that nation. Fifthly, men should not wear silk clothing. According to some scholars, clothing does not refer only to outer garments, but rather to the entire style and way of life, in which clothing is included—that is, every habit of a person should reflect the color of taqwa. According to them, the word "clothing" is used in a figurative sense, just as the word "veil" is used in "the veil of religious sanctity."
