CHAPTER 11 – Narrations Relating to Those Who Dislike Wearing Silk Garments
Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, related:
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings upon him, forbade wearing clothes dyed with usfur (a type of yellow dye), wearing gold rings, and reciting the Qur’an in a bowing posture.
Ali ibn Abi Talib narrated from a preceding narration: That reciting the Qur'an in rukūʿ and sujud was prohibited.
The hadith was narrated through Ibrahim bin Abdullah, with an addition to what was previously related.
[He said,] “I did not forbid you from reciting [the Quran] in those places.”
**EXPLANATION:**
Ruku’ and prostration are locations for glorification (tasbih). Glorification has been designated within them.
Reading the Qur'an is a place for standing. Therefore, recitation to be read while standing has been forbidden from being recited during ruku’ and prostration, which are places of tasbih.
Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) related:
The Byzantine Emperor sent the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) a coat of fine silk. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) put it on, and I could almost see its sleeves trembling. Then he sent it to Ja'far ibn Abi Talib. Ja'far put it on and came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).
He said to him: “I did not give it to you so that you would wear it.” Ja’far asked, "What should I do with it then?" The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) commanded, “Send it to your brother, Najashi, the King of Abyssinia.”
Imran ibn Husayn, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated:
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “I will not mount a red (silk) cushion. I will not wear clothing dyed with saffron. I will not wear a garment edged with silk.” The narrator, Katada, said: Hasan al-Basri pointed to the collar of his shirt. Katada said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
“Indeed, the perfume for men is scentless and fragrant, and the perfume for women is colored but without fragrance.”
The narrator, Sa’id ibn Abu Arubah, said: I think that Katada said: The scholars say that the phrase “perfume for women” in this narration refers to [the prohibition of] women going out; [but they may use it] when she is with her husband at home.
From Abu al-Husayn (that is, Haytham ibn Shafī) – may Allah be pleased with him -: I and my companion, a man from the tribe of Muafir who was known as Abu Amr, set out to pray in Ilia (the Temple/Mesaid al-Aqsa). The preacher among the Companions was a man named Abu Rayhan from the tribe of ‘Uzd.
Abu al-Husayn said: My companion entered the mosque before me. Then I followed him and sat beside him. My companion asked me, “Have you ever attended Abu Rayhan’s sermons?” I replied, “No.” My companion said to me, "I heard him say that the Messenger of Allah – peace and blessings be upon him – forbade ten things: altering teeth, tattooing, plucking white hairs, a man lying with another man without clothing between them, women lying naked with other women without a covering, a man wearing silk adornment on his lower garment and shoulders as Persians do, unjustly taking property, sitting on a leopard’s skin, and wearing a signet ring except the ruler."
Abu Dawud said: The word "ring" is mentioned only in this narration and not in others that relate this hadith through different chains.
EXPLANATION:
*Washr:* Altering teeth to make them small and sharp. Arab women were very particular about this.
*Wasm:* Making incisions in the body with a needle and rubbing it with gunpowder. This was common among Arab and black tribes. It is altering Allah’s creation, and is forbidden.
*Mukamaa:* Lying face to face.
*Shiar:* A covering, clothing, meaning a shirt that reaches the hair.
*Nuhba:* Taking unjustly from the property of Muslims.
*Nimr:* Leopards. Sitting on leopard skin is forbidden because it is a sign of arrogance.
Regarding wearing a signet ring, it is forbidden because it is not a necessity for others. However, considering the reports that the Companions of the Prophet – peace and blessings be upon him – wore rings, it is preferable to abstain from wearing them. Signet rings are permissible for rulers and those given authority to use seals due to the necessity of carrying them.
Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) forbade reclining on silk cushions.
EXPLANATION
Meyâsir: An ‘eghir’ is a cushion placed upon a seat.
Just as wearing silk is forbidden, reclining upon it has also been deemed inappropriate.
Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) forbade me from wearing gold rings, dressing in silk qissah garments, and using a red silk saddle cover.
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) related that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) performed prayer in woolen cloth with embroidery. He looked at its embroidery, and when he gave the greeting, he said: “Take this embroidered garment of mine to Abu Jahm. He distracted me during my prayer. Bring me Abu Jahm’s unembroidered garment.”
COMMENTARY
Hamisa: Refers to a woolen fabric with embroidery.
Anbicaniyya: Means a garment without embroidery.
Abu Jahm's given name is Amr; some say his name is Ubay.
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) had performed prayer in black wool or silk embroidered cloth that Abu Jahm had gifted to him. Therefore, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) is returning the Hamisa to him and requesting an unembroidered garment from Abu Jahm.
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) related: A narration similar to the preceding hadith was reported. However, the previous hadith is more complete.