Bigotry: The Dark Danger

Muslims Have the Right to Wear Attractive Designer Clothing and Own Fine Cars and Nice Homes

Our Prophet (pbuh) and his companions were the highest-quality, most modern-looking and cleanest people of their time. Were our Prophet (pbuh) alive today, he would be the highest-quality person of our time. He would wear the most modern and attractive clothing of the day, would live in the most modern and pleasant home and would drive the finest cars. He would be known to all for his excellence. Indeed, the hadiths report that our Prophet (pbuh) wore the most select and impressive clothing of his time, and wore a gold-embroidered robe:

“He went out in a gold-embroidered robe and said: O Mahrama! This is what I have kept for you...” (Great Hadith Collection, Jam al-Fawaid, Min Jami al-Usul and Majma az-Zawaid, Imam Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Sulayman, Ar-Rudani, Iz Publications, 2^nd edition, Istanbul 2009, pp. 257-261-262-265-271-272-273)

Those people who try to make a religion out of their traditions based on superstition generally regard themselves as unworthy of anything attractive and act out of feelings of inferiority, and therefore do not regard themselves – or Muslims in general – as deserving of attractive designer clothes, nice homes and fine cars. There is no problem with anyone living in a luxury home, having a good car and wearing the nicest clothes yet these people lose their reason and common-sense when Muslims do these things. Their sense of inferiority also increases their anger. They not only look at the outside with anger, but also at Muslims.

Of course Muslims must do all in their power to protect people in difficulties and strive to please God as much as possible in that regard. However, that does not mean that they have to be ill-kempt, dirty and scruffy. A Muslim has a significant preaching power just because of his appearance. The more he looks clean, high-quality, polite, and modern, the more extroverted he is, and the more joyful he is and open to new ideas, the more perfect his preaching of the faith will be. That life style will of course prevail in his entire life, not just preaching. In the view of the Qur’an, Muslims already have an obligation to live in that way, and indeed they take pleasure from doing so.

Those who seek to make a religion out of traditions consisting of nonsense do not generally regard themselves as worthy of beauty and generally act out of deeply-rooted feelings of inferiority. They do not regard attractive designer clothing or fine homes and cars as befitting themselves or other Muslims.

Instead of that horrible way of life in which women are despised, they will be affected by a peaceable conception of Islam in which quality prevails and will begin to feel love, rather than fear and that is what is compatible with the Qur’an. Indeed, in the time of our Prophet (pbuh), people who saw his glorious quality, joyful and modern behavior and appearance were always extraordinarily affected. It is a known fact that our Prophet (pbuh) always wore Byzantine robes and other fine clothes when greeting foreign envoys. Our Prophet (pbuh) also sent Dihya al-Kalbi on various trips to introduce Islam to other peoples. Dihya al-Kalbi was incredibly handsome and always wore very expensive and high-quality clothes in the places where he went to preach Islam. Due to his appearance and his great quality the people would pour out onto the streets in the regions where he went to preach, and would be hugely impressed by him. The aim here was for people to see that Islam values beauty and quality.

People will be more influenced by an image of a peace-loving, high-quality Muslim rather than that other life style dominated by squalor. When they see that, they will begin feeling love rather than fear. And that is what is compatible with the Qur'an.

Some hadiths of our Prophet’s (pbuh) regarding Muslims dressing well and being of good quality are as follows:

Abu’l-Ahwas related the following on the authority of his father, Malik bin Nadlah: “I came to the Prophet (pbuh) wearing old clothes, and he said: ‘Do you have any property?’ I said: ‘Yes!’ He asked: ‘What kind?’ I said: ‘I have every kind, i.e., camels, cattle, horses, and sheep.’ [The Prophet] said: ‘If God gives you wealth, then let it show on you.’” (Imam Ahmad recorded this hadith from Sufyan bin `Uyaynah, from Abu Az-Za`ra' `Amr bin `Amr, from his uncle Abu Al-Ahwas `Awf bin Malik bin Nadlah from his father, Malik bin Nadlah.)

Narrated from Jabir (ra): We went to the Battle of Anmar with the Prophet (pbuh) ... O Messenger of God, we have a friend from Madina. We also prepared him. He follows behind and protects us. The man came with two torn pieces of clothing. When the Prophet (pbuh) saw him he asked, “Does he have nothing else to wear than these two torn pieces of clothing?” “He has two other pieces of clothing I gave him in his bag.” “Call him and tell him to put those on.” I called him over, and he put those on. As the man turned to go, the Messenger of God (pbuh) said: “Is it not better for him (instead of wearing old clothes when he has new ones)?” The man heard this and said, “O Messenger of God! Should I also wear new clothes when I go on jihad on the path of God?” “Yes, even when waging jihad on the path of God.” (Great Hadith Collection, Jam al-Fawaid,
Min Jami al-Usul and Majma az-Zawaid, Imam Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Sulayman, Ar-Rudani, Iz Publications, 2^nd edition, Istanbul 2009, pp. 257-261-262-265-271-272-273)