The blessing of clothing
Clothing is a bounty that is exclusive to humans. No other creation enjoys such a bounty. Allah Ta’ala has made reference to this blessing in the Quran. ‘O Mankind, we have indeed granted you clothing that covers your shame and that is a means of adornment.’ (Al A’raaf, Verse: 26). The historians state that Nabi […]
Clothing is a bounty that is exclusive to humans. No other creation enjoys such a bounty. Allah Ta’ala has made reference to this blessing in the Quran. ‘O Mankind, we have indeed granted you clothing that covers your shame and that is a means of adornment.’ (Al A’raaf, Verse: 26).
The historians state that Nabi Idris (AS) was the first person to sow garments of cloth. Prior to that, man used animal skin as his garb. (Al-Awaail li Suyuti pg 85)
Suppose for a moment that man had to tread the earth as an animal does, with only his skin as clothing. Imagine the shame and inconvenience it would had caused yet Almighty Allah has provided us with a huge variety of garments.
As the seasons change and with the passage of time, one feels the need to acquire new clothing. Have we ever reflected over the agony of that person who has to endure the cold windy, dry harmattan while we have a wide range of warm clothing lying unused? When one adopts the Sunnah of Rasulullah (SAW), then even those ‘useless’ old clothes become ‘useful’.
Upon receiving new clothes, Rasulullah (SAW) would donate his old clothes and say, ‘whoever adorns new cloths, recites the following du’a – ‘Alhamdulillahi ladhi kassani ma uwari bihi ‘awratiy wa atajammalu bihi fi hayati’ (Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 3560, Al Mustadrak, vol.4, pg.193) – and thereafter donates his old clothing to a poor Muslim, remains in the protection, patronage and Divine veil of Almighty Allah throughout his life as well as after his demise. As long as even one thread (of the donated clothing) remains on somebody’s body’.
In the narration of Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas (RA), Rasulullah (SAW) is reported to have said, ‘He who gives cloth to any destitute Muslim, remains in the security of Allah as long as a single piece remains on his body.’ (Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 2484; Shu’abul Iman, Hadith: 8575)
The rewards stated above are obtained by one when the destitute merely dons those garments. The reward will definitely multiply if he were to adorn those clothes whilst offering salah, observing the fast or any other virtuous deed.
With the arrival of the harmattan, many of us may have purchased garments to combat the weather whilst there remain out there several others who cannot afford to do so. These less fortunate ones include the innocent children, as well as weak senior citizens. This is an ideal opportunity of practicing this noble Sunnah of Rasulullah (SAW).
Imagine the reward one could acquire, if through this simple deed somebody embraces Islam. If this is the reward for donating old clothes, what could be in store for one who donates new clothing? With the motive being ‘harmattan warmth’, one may even consider donating blankets, heaters, soup kitchens, etc. the potential for growth is unimaginable!
– Source: Al Miftahw