Sunnah of Dressing

Our Nabi's 'wardrobe' consisted only of a minimum number of garments that he needed and actually wore. These were frequently patched and had to be repeatedly washed as his wardrobe was very spare.


Prophet SAW's Shirt:

Nabi SAW liked wearing Kurta (long shirt) the most. Nabi sleeves reached up to his wrists and the collar or neckline of his Kurta was towards his chest. Once when the collar of Nabi's Kurta was open a Sahabi (R.A.), for the sake of acquiring blessing, inserted his hand in Nabi SAW's Kurta and touched the seal of Prophethood. (SHAAMAIL TIRMIZI)

Nabi SAW's Kurta used to be above his ankles, reaching up to mid-calf. (HAKIM)

Prophet SAW's Trousers:

Nabi SAW bought trousers but did not wear them. (TIRMIZI)


Other Items:

Our Nabi's clothes consisted of sheet, lungi (loin-cloth), Kurta (long shirt) and amamah (turban). He also had a cloth (towel) with which he dried his face etc. after wudhu.He liked striped sheets. He used to wear a topi (fez/hat) below the amamah and sometimes he used to wear only the topi. Some times it (amamah) had a tail and at other times it did not have a tail. The tail of the amamah (turban) used to fall between the shoulders at his back.


Rasulullah wore a quba (long coat) also. Nabi SAW's lower garment used to end between the knee and the ankle.Rasulullah SAW's sheet was red striped. He also wore green and black woollen sheets (shawl) with or without embroidery. In some narrations it is stated that Nabi SAW's personal life never changed even when he became the Master of the whole of Arabia and Syria. His personal life continued to be austere.

He used to say, "l am only a servant and dress myself like one." The most important sunnat in our Nabi SAW's dressing was convenience and informality and he did not care for any particular kind or quality of clothing. He mostly wore cotton clothing but at times he also wore expensive clothing. He had an expensive outfit which he wore for Jumuah and the two Eids and whilst meeting outside delegations.

Prohibitions:

Our Nabi SAW prohibited the wearing of silk and gold for men but permitted the ladies. (TIRMIZI)

(Similarly our Nabi ' prohibited men from wearing red and saffron coloured clothing)

He preferred white clothing.but, he used a black blanket also.(SHAMAIL-E-TIRMIZI)

Sunnah of Wearing Shoes:

When wearing shoes or clothing to begin with the right and when removing them to begin with the left. (TIRMIZI)

Our Nabi SAW prohibited walking with one shoe only. (BUKHARI)

Nabi SAW would not throw away clothing until worn patched.(TIRMIZI)

Nabi SAW advised us to keep in mind those people who are poorer than us in the matenal world and those that are more piousand educated than ourselves in deen (religion). (TIRMIZI)

Men should wear their pants (lower garments) above the ankles. (TIRMIZI)

Those men who wear their pants (or any garment eg lungi or Khurta) below their ankles will, on the Day of Qiyarnat, have fire on their ankles and Allah shall not look at them with mercy (MISHKAAT)
NOTE:- This law is for all times whether in namaaz or not.

On the Day of the Conquest of Makkah, our Nabi wore a black amamah (turban). (MISHKAAT)

Our Nabi SAW wore strapped sandals and leather socks (mowzai). (MISHKAAT)

Whenever he lifted his shoes, he did so with the fingers of his left hand.(SHAMAIL-E-TIRMIZI)
HazratAbu Hurairah (RA.) said: "Allah's Messenger cursed the man who put on woman's clothing and the woman who put on man's clothing". (ABU DAWOOD)

Nabi SAW said:- He who puts on clothes and says:-'Praise be to Allah, who clothed me with this, and who provided me with it without any power or might of mine', then his past and present (minor) sins are forgiven. (ABU DAWOOD)

When wearing new clothes our Nabi SAW used to praise Allah then, he would read 2 rakaats Nafi (optional) prayer of thanks and give the old clothes away to any needy person. (IBN-ASAKIR)

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Question:
Are you aware of any Sunnahs as to how to wear a turban?

Answer:

The Sunna is to wear it. As to its style and length they vary without specific prescription. The Prophet (saws) wore it withits extremity hanging between his shoulders, as in the report from Ibn `Umar in al-Tirmidhi's Sunan and he said it is hasan.

The Shafi`i said it may also be worn without this extremity.The Salaf wound it also around the chin. This winding is apre-condition for wiping, without which it is invalid to wipeover the turban during wudu'.

Al-Munawi in Sharh al-Shama'iland al-Suyuti in al-Hawi fil-Fatawa said the length isindeterminate. The Shuyukh said the sirwal is put on sittingand the turban is put on standing. At each winding of it,repeat the Shahada and invoke blessings on the Prophet.

The most complete documentation of the rulings that pertainto this vestimentary Sunna is al-Hafiz Muhammad Ja`far al-Kattani's al-Di`ama fi Ahkam Sunnat al-`Imama. I have also seen an excellent long discussion of it in Imam al-Saffarini's Ghidha' al-Albab. See also the pertinent chapter in the booksof Shama'il and their Shuruh. In English: al-Kandihlawi onal-Tirmidhi's Shama'il.

In 1994-1995 I put together a synopsisof this literature which is still available from al-SunnahFoundation of America insha Allah, titled the Turban in Islam.

Sidi G F Haddad

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Few Ahadeeth Regarding Headgear ( Topi/Amamah/Turban) of Rasulallah SAW:

1. Aaisha (Radhiallaahu Anha) mentions that when on journey, Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) would wear a Topi with ear-flaps. While at home, he would wear a Syrian Topi. (Akhlaaqun-Nani pg.104)

2. Ibn Umar (Radhiallaahu Anhu) says, Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) would wear a white Topi. (Tabrani; Majma-uz-zawaaid vol.5 pg.21)

3. Habib ibn Salih (Radhiallaahu Anhu) narrates that when Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) would enter the toilet, he wore shoes and covered his head. (Bayhaqi vol.1 pg.96)

4. Waail ibn Hujr (Radhiallaahu Anhu) mentions that he performed Salaat with Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) and the Sahaaba (Radhiallaahu Anhum) who were wearing barnases (a type of topi or garment with a hood). (ibn Khuzayma pg.233)

5.Abu Kabsha (Radhiallaahu Ánhu) narrates that the caps of the companions of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) used to be round and spacious. (Mirqaat vol.8 pg.246)

It is narrated by Tabrani on the authority of Ibn Umar (Radhiallaahu Ánhuma) that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) used to wear a white cap. (Ibid)

6. Hassan Basri (Rahmatullah Alayhi) states that the people (Sahaaba - Radhiallaahu Anhum) used to make Sajda (prostrate) upon their turbans and caps. (Bukhari vol.1 pg.56; Rashidiyya)

7. Mullah Ali Qari (Rahmatulah Alayhi) states that the wearing of the caps has become one of the salient symbols of Islam. (Mirqaat vol.8 pg.246)

It is the only outward and unique salient feature that distinguishes a Muslim from a non-Muslim. No other community group or people wear the Muslim type cap.

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