The Great Reward for Abandoning Fine Clothing Out of Humility
Written by: ʿImrān Ayyūb Lāhorī
❶ Ḥadīth
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
من ترك لبس ثوب جمال ، وهو يقدر عليه تواضعا كساه الله حلل الكرامة
“Whoever leaves off wearing a beautiful garment, despite having the means to wear it, out of humility, Allah will clothe him with garments of honor.”
[Ḥasan li-ghayrihi: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Targhīb: 2073; Kitāb al-Libās wa al-Zīnah: Bāb al-Targhīb fī Tark al-Tarafuʿ fī al-Libās Tawāḍuʿan; Abū Dāwūd: 4778; Bayhaqī in Shuʿab al-Īmān: 8304]
❷ Ḥadīth of Muʿādh ibn Anas (RA)
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
مـن تـرك اللباس تواضعا لله ، وهو يقدر عليه ، دعاه الله يوم القيامة على رؤوس الخلائق حتى يخيره من أى حلل الإيمان شاء يلبسها
“Whoever leaves off wearing fine clothing out of humility for Allah, while being capable of wearing it, Allah will call him on the Day of Judgment before all creation and give him the choice to wear whichever garment of faith he wishes.”
[Ḥasan li-ghayrihi: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Targhīb: 2072; Tirmidhī: 2481; Ḥākim: 1/61, 4/184 – authenticated by Imām Ḥākim]
❸ Simplicity of the Prophet ﷺ
ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar (RA) narrated:
توفي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وإن نــمـرة مـن صوف تنسج له
“When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ passed away, a woolen cloak was still being woven for him.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ: al-Ṣaḥīḥah: 2687; Ṣaḥīḥ al-Targhīb: 2076; Bayhaqī in Shuʿab al-Īmān: 6165]
ʿĀ’ishah (RA) narrated:
إنما كان فراش رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم الذى ينام عليه أدما حشوه ليف
“The mattress of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ on which he slept was made of leather stuffed with palm fiber.”
In another narration:
كان و سادة رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم الذى يتكئ عليه من أدم حشوه ليف
“The pillow of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ that he used to lean on was made of leather stuffed with palm fiber.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2082; Kitāb al-Libās wa al-Zīnah: Bāb al-Tawāḍuʿ fī al-Libās]
❹ Simplicity of ʿUmar (RA)
Anas ibn Mālik (RA) said:
رأيت عمر رضي الله عنه ، وهو يومئذ أمير المومنين ، وقد رقع بين كتفيه برقاع ثلاث
“I saw ʿUmar (RA), while he was the leader of the believers, and he had patched three pieces of cloth between his shoulders.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ Mawqūf: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Targhīb: 2082; Muwaṭṭaʾ: 2/918]
❺ Warning Against Prideful Clothing
Ibn ʿUmar (RA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
من لبس ثوب شهرة في الدنيا , البسه الله ثوب مذلة يوم القيامة , ثم الهب فيه نارا
“Whoever wears a garment of fame (clothing of pride and arrogance) in this world, Allah will clothe him in a garment of disgrace on the Day of Judgment, then set it ablaze with fire.”
[Ḥasan: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Targhīb: 2089; Ibn Mājah: 3607]
These narrations highlight the immense virtue of leaving off luxurious clothing out of humility, and the severe warning against wearing clothes of arrogance or fame. The Prophet ﷺ and the Companions lived in simplicity, setting a timeless example.