Sunan Ibn Majah: Chapters on Dress

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed in a Khamisah* that had markings on it. Then he said: ‘These markings distracted me. Take it to Abu Jahm and bring me an Anbijaniyyah.’”**

“I entered upon ‘Aishah and she brought out to me a thick waist wrap of the type made in Yemen, and one of these cloaks that are called Mulabbadah,* and she swore to me that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had passed away in them.”

It was narrated from ‘Ubadah bin Samit that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed in a Shamlah tied with a knot.

“I was with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and over him was a Najrani upper wrap with a thick border.”

“I never saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) insulting anyone, and no garment was ever folded up for him.”*

* “What type of woven sheet?” He said: “A Shamlah.” She said: “O Messenger of Allah, I have woven this with my own hands for you to wear.” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) took it, since he needed it. He came out to us wearing it as a lower wrap. So-and-so the son of so-and-so.” – a man whose name he told that day – said: “O Messenger of Allah, how beautiful this sheet is! Let me wear it.” He said: “Yes.” When he went inside he folded it up and sent it to him. The people said to him: “By Allah, you have not done well. The Prophet (ﷺ) wore it because he needed it, then you asked for it, and you knew that he would not refuse anyone who asked him for something.” He said: “By Allah, I did not ask for it so that I could wear it, rather I asked for it so that it could be my shroud.” Sahl said: “And it became his shroud the day he died.”

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) wore wool and sandals, and he wore coarse, rough garments.”

“Umar bin Khattab put on a new garment and said: Al-hamdu lillahil-ladhi kasani ma uwari bihi ‘awrati, wa atajammalu bihi fi hayati (Praise is to Allah Who has clothed me in something with which I conceal my nakedness and adorn myself in my life). Then he said: ‘I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: “Whoever puts on a new garment and says: Al-hamdu lillahil- ladhi kasani ma uwari bihi ‘awrati, wa atajammalu bihi fi hayati (Praise be to Allah Who has clothed me in something with which I conceal my nakedness and adorn myself in my life), then takes the garment that has worn out, or that he had taken off and gives it in charity, he will be under the shelter, protection and care of Allah, whether he lives or dies.’ He said this three times.”

“Is this garment of yours washed or a new one?” He said: “Rather it has been washed.” He said: “Ilbas jadida, wa `ish hamida, wa mut shahida (May you wear new clothes, live a good life and die as martyr).”

It was narrated from Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri that the Prophet (ﷺ) forbade two kinds of dress. Those two types of dress are Ishtimalus- Samma’* and Ihtiba’ in a single garment, with no part of it upon his private part.**

Ishtimalus-Samma’ and Ihtiba’, exposing one’s private part to the sky.

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade two kinds of dress: Ishtimalus-Samma’ and Ihtiba’ in one garment, when you are exposing your private part to the sky.”

“O my son, if only you could have seen us when we were with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), when rain fell on us; you would have thought that we smelled like sheep.”

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came out to us one day, wearing a Roman cloak of wool with narrow sleeves. He led us in prayer wearing that, and nothing else.”

It was narrated from Salman Farisi that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) performed ablution, then he turned his woolen cloak that he was wearing inside out and wiped his face with it.

“I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) marking sheep on their ears, and I saw him wearing a cloak around his wrist.”

“The best of your garments are the white ones, so wear them and shroud your dead in them.”

“Wear white garments, for they are purer and better.”

“The best of that in which you visit Allah in your graves and your mosque is white (garments).”*

“Whoever lets his garment drag out of pride, Allah will not look at him on the Day of Resurrection.”

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Whoever lets his lower wrap drag out of pride, Allah will not look at him on the Day of Resurrection.” He ( ‘Atiyyah) said "I met Ibn 'Umar in Al-Balaat so I mentioned Abu Sa'eed's hadith from the Prophet (ﷺ). So he said and pointed to his ears 'My two ears heard it, and my heart preserved it.' "

“O my nephew! I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying ‘Whoever let his garment drag out of pride, Allah will not look at him on the Day of Resurrection.’”

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) took hold of the lower part of my calf or his calf and said: ‘This is where the lower wrap should come to. If you insist, then lower, and if you insist, then lower, but the lower wrap has no right to (come to) the ankle.’”

“I said to Abu Sa’eed: ‘Did you hear anything from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) concerning the lower wrap?’ He said: ‘Yes. I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: ‘The lower wrap of the believer should come to mid-calf, but there is no sin on him if it comes between that point and the ankle. But whatever is lower than the ankle is in the Fire.’ And he said three times: ‘Allah will not look at the one who lets his lower wrap drag out of vanity.’”

“O Sufyan bin Sahl, do not let your garment hang, for Allah does not like those who let their garments hang below the ankles.’”

There was no garment more beloved to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) than the shirt.”

“Hanging down may apply to the waist wrap, shirt or turban. Whoever lets any of these drag out of pride, Allah will not look at him on the Day of Resurrection.”

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to wear a shirt that was short in the sleeves and length.”

“I came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and gave him my pledge, and the buttons of his shirt were undone.”

“The Prophet (ﷺ) came to us and haggled with us over the price of trousers.”

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was asked about how long a woman’s hem should hang down. He said: ‘A hand span.’ I said: ‘But then (her legs and feet) will be uncovered.’ He said: ‘Then a forearm’s length, but no more than that.’”

“The wives of the Prophet (ﷺ) were allowed to let their hems hang down, so they used to come to us and we would measure one forearms length for them with a reed.”

“Let your hem down one forearm’s length.”

“A hand span.” ‘Aishah said: “This may show her calves.” He said: “Then a forearm’s length.”

“I saw the Prophet (ﷺ) delivering a sermon on the pulpit, wearing a black turban.”

It was narrated from Jabir that the Prophet (ﷺ) entered Makkah wearing a black turban.

It was narrated from Ibn ‘Umar that the Prophet (ﷺ) entered (Makkah), on the Day of the Conquest of Makkah, wearing a black turban.

“It is as if I can see the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), wearing a black turban, with the ends hanging down his shoulders.”

“Whoever wears silk in this world will not wear it in the Hereafter.”

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade brocade, silk, and embroidered brocade.”

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade wearing silk and gold. He said: ‘They are for them in this world and for us in the Hereafter.’”

“O Messenger of Allah, why don’t you buy this two piece suit (to wear for meeting) the delegations, and on Fridays?” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “This is only worn by one who has no share in the Hereafter.”

It was narrated from Anas bin Malik that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) granted a concession to Zubair bin ‘Awwam and ‘Abdur-Rahman bin ‘Auf, allowing them to wear silk shirts, because of a rash they were suffering from.

Then he gestured with his finger, then a second, and a third, and a fourth (i.e., the width of four fingers), and he said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to forbid it.”

“I saw Ibn ‘Umar buying a turban that had some markings, then he called for a pair of scissors and cut that off. I entered upon Asma’ and mentioned that to her, and she said: ‘May ‘Abdullah perish, O girl! Give me the garment of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).’ A garment was brought that was hemmed with brocade on the sleeves, necklines and openings (at the front and back).”

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) took hold of some silk in his left hand and some gold in his right, then he raised his hands and said: ‘These two are forbidden for the males of my nation, and permitted to the females.’”

“O Messenger of Allah, what should I do with these? Shall I wear them?” He said: “No, rather make them into head-cloths and give them to the Fatimahs.”**

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came out to us, and in one of his hands was a garment of silk and in the other was some gold. He said: ‘These are forbidden to the males of my nation and permitted to the females.’”

“I saw Zainab the daughter of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) wearing a shirt of Siyara’ silk.*

“I never saw anyone more handsome then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), with his hair combed, wearing a red two-piece suit.”

I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) delivering a sermon, and Hasan and Husain came forward, wearing red shirts, stumbling and getting up again. The Prophet (ﷺ) stepped down, picked them up and put them in his lap. Then he said: “Allah and His Messenger have spoken the truth. ‘Your wealth and your children are only a trial.’ [64:15] I saw these two and I could not be patient. Then he resumed his sermon.”

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade Al-Mufaddam.”

“I heard ‘Ali say: ‘The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade me – and I do not say that he forbade you – from wearing clothes dyed with safflower.’”

“We came with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was Thaniyyat Adhakhir. He turned to me, and I was wearing a thin cloak dyed with safflower, and said: ‘What is this?’ And I realized that he disliked it. I came to my family when they were heating their oven and threw it (in the oven). Then I came to him the following day and he said: ‘O ‘Abdullah, what happened to the thin cloak?’ I told him (what I had done) and he said: ‘Why did you not give it to some of your family to wear, for there is nothing wrong with it for women.’”

“The Prophet (ﷺ) came to us and we gave him some water with which to cool down. He bathed, then I brought him a yellow blanket, and I saw the traces of Wars (the yellow dye) on the folds of his stomach.”

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Eat and drink, give charity and wear clothes, as long as that does not involve any extravagance or vanity.’”

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Whoever wears a garment of pride and vanity, Allah will clothe him, on the Day of Resurrection, in a garment of humiliation.’”

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Whoever wears a garment of pride and vanity in this world, Allah will clothe him in a garment of humiliation on the Day of Resurrection, then set it ablaze.’”

“Whoever wears a garment of pride and vanity, Allah will turn away from him until he takes it off.”

“I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: ‘Any skin that has been tanned has been purified.’”

“Why don’t they take its skin and ten it, and make us of it?” They said: “O Messenger of Allah, it is dead meat.”* He said: “It is only unlawful to eat it.”

“One of the Mothers of the Believers had a sheep that died. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) passed by it and said: ‘It would not have harmed its owners if they had made use of its hide.’”

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) commanded that use should be made of the skins of dead animals, if they were tanned.”

“There came to us a letter from the Prophet (ﷺ) (saying): ‘No not make use of the untanned skin and sinew of dead animals.’”

“The sandals of the Prophet (ﷺ) had two thongs doubled around their straps.”

“The sandals of the Prophet (ﷺ) had two thongs.”

“When anyone of you puts on his sandals, let him start with the right, and when he takes them off, let him start with the left.”

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said; “None of you should walk in one sandal or in one leather sock. Let him take them both off or walk in both of them.”

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade putting on sandals whilst standing.”

“The Prophet (ﷺ) forbade putting on sandals whilst standing.”

It was narrated from Ibn Buraidah, from his father, that an-Najashi sent a pair of pure black Khuff as a gift to the Prophet (ﷺ) of, which he wore.

“The Jews and the Christians do not dye (their hair), so differ from them.”

“The best things with which you change gray hair are henna and Katam.”*

“I entered upon Umm Salamah and she brought out for me a hair of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), which was dyed with henna and Katam.”

“Abu Quhaifah was brought to the Prophet (ﷺ) on the Day of the Conquest (of Makkah), and his head was all white. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Take him to some of his womenfolk and let them change this, but avoid black.’”

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘The best thing with which you can dye your hair is this black (dye). It makes your women desire you and creates fear in the hearts of your enemies.’”

“I see that you dye your beard yellow with Wars.” Ibn ‘Umar said: “As for my dyeing of my beard yellow with Wars, I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) dyeing his beard yellow.”

“The Prophet (ﷺ) passed by a man who had dyed his hair with henna and said: ‘How handsome this is!’ Then he passed by another who had dyed his hair with henna and Katam, and said: ‘This one is more handsome than that one.’ Then he passed by another who had dyed his hair yellow and said: ‘This one is more handsome than all of them.’”

“I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and this part of his hair was white” – meaning the tuft of hair between the lower lip and the chin.

“Anas bin Malik was asked: ‘Did the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) dye his hair?’ He said: ‘He did not have any white hair apart from approximately seventeen or twenty hairs at the front of his beard.’”

“The white hair of the Prophet (ﷺ) numbered approximately twenty.”

“Umm Hani said: ‘When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) entered Makkah he had four braids.’”

“The People of the Book used to let their hair hang down, and the idolaters used to part their hair. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) liked to be more like the People of the Book. So the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) let his forelock hang down, then after that he parted it.”

“I used to part the hair of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) behind his crown, and let his forelock hang down.”

“The hair of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was wavy, and (hung down) between his ears and his shoulders.”

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had hair that came between his earlobes and his shoulders.”

“The Prophet (ﷺ) saw me when I had long hair. He said: ‘Bad news, bad news!’ So I went away and cut it short. Then the Prophet (ﷺ) saw me and said: ‘I did not mean you, but this is better.’”

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade Qaza’.” He (Nafi’) said: “What is Qaza’?” He said: “It means shaving part of a child’s head and leaving another part.”

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade Qaza’.”

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) wore a ring of silver, then he had engraved on it (the words) ‘Muhammad Rasul Allah’ (Muhammad the Messenger of Allah). And he said: ‘No one should have his ring engraved like this ring of mine.’”

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had a ring made for him, and he said: ‘I have had a ring made for me and had it engraved, and no one should make a ring with similar engraving.’”

‘Muhammad Rasul Allah’ (Muhammad the Messenger of Allah).”

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade wearing gold rings.”

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade gold rings.”

“Najashi sent some jewelry as a gift to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). Among that was a gold ring with an Ethiopian gemstone. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) picked it up with a stick – as if he found it distasteful – or with one of his fingers, then he called for his daughter, Umamah bint Abul-‘As, and said: ‘Wear this, O my daughter.’”

It was narrated from Ibn ‘Umar that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to wear (his ring) with the stone nearest his palm.

It was narrated from Anas bin Malik that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) wore a silver ring with an Ethiopian gemstone, and he used to ear the stone in towards his palm.

It was narrated from ‘Abdullah bin Ja’far that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to wear a ring on his right hand.

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade me to wear a ring on this and on this,” meaning the little finger and the thumb.

“The angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or an image.”

“The angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or an image.”

“Jibril (as) promised the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) that he would come to him at a certain hour, but he was late. The Prophet (ﷺ) went out and there was Jibril standing at the door. He said: ‘What kept you from entering?’ He said: ‘There is a dog in the house, and we do not enter a house in which there is a dog or an image.’”

It was narrated from Abu Umamah that a woman came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and told him that her husband was away on some military campaign. She asked him for permission to make an image of a palm tree in her house, and he did not let her, or he forbade her.

“I covered a small room closet of mine, meaning, from the inside, with a curtain on which there were images. When the Prophet (ﷺ) came, he tore it down, so I made two pillows from it, and I saw the Prophet (ﷺ) reclining on one of them.”

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade rings of gold and Al-Mitharah,”* meaning the red ones.

“I heard Abu Raihanah, the Companion of the Prophet (ﷺ) say: ‘The Prophet (ﷺ) used to forbid riding on leopard skins.’”

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to forbid riding on leopard skins.”