The Book of Dress

Riyad as-Salihin · Chapter 120

The Excellence of Giving Up Elegant Clothes Out of Humility

باب استحباب ترك الترفع في اللباس تواضعاً

A single luminous hadith makes the point of this short chapter: choosing humbleness over display, when you could easily afford finery, is treasured by Allah. This is tawadu, lowering yourself before Allah and among people, expressed through what you wear.

Notice the reward is not less beauty but more: the one who set aside worldly elegance for the sake of humility is honoured before all creation and offered the garments of faith. What is given up for Allah is returned far greater.

Hadith 801

Mu`adh bin Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

وعن معاذ بن أنس رضى الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال‏:‏ ‏ "‏ من ترك اللباس تواضعاً لله، وهو يقدر عليه، دعاه الله يوم القيامة على رؤوس الخلائق حتى يخيره من أي حلل الإيمان شاء يلبسها‏" ‏.((رواه الترمذي)) ‏

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Whoever gives up wearing elegant and expensive garments out of humbleness, when he can do so, Allah will call him on the Day of Resurrection, before all of creation, He will give him the choice to wear whichever garment of Iman he would like to wear." [At-Tirmidhi].

In plain words

Whoever could afford fine clothes but gives them up out of humility before Allah will be honored before all creation and offered the garments of faith. What is set aside for Allah is returned far greater.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 801 In-book reference : Book 3, Hadith 24