Dressing Properly

As has been previously mentioned, one should make an effort to dress neatly in the presence of others, no matter who they are. When visiting parents, pious people, elders, a relative, a friend, no matter how close, we should maintain cleanliness and elegance not ugly unsightliness.

Humans are naturely attracted or repulsed by what they see. Those that look good in clean clothes, smell nice, and are pleasant to look at people are attracted to them and enjoy their presence. Those that adopt the opposing characteristics, often cause harm to those that they meet with, through their physically unsightly appearance, their odour or otherwise. Hence this should be avoided to prevent people looking down on you (no matter who they are, or how close they are).

So to look neat and presentable when visiting someone or being visited is an Islamic manner. Do no ignore this aspect because you consider yourself close to those you are with. So if we should be visited whilst in casual clothing, we should change for the visitor, in order to enhance respect and complement your hospitality. These were the distinguished manners of the early Muslims.

NB: For further detail on the rulings related to "the Manners of Adornment & Attire" see Chapter 15: "The Book of Manners" by Fu'ad Ibn Abdul -Azeez Ash-Shulhoob

The Importance of Appearance

CHAPTER 2

THE DISTINCT MUSLIM PERSONALITY

A Muslim should be distinguished from the disbelievers in all ways: manners, characteristics, appearance, purity, and cleanliness; in short their way of life. Each and every principle is paramount to our social and private affairs.

The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said to the Companions:

“You are on the way to meet your brothers, put on nice dress and fix your saddles so you appear distinct among people as a beauty mark [on a beautiful face]. Allah likes neither roughness nor rough manners”.
(Muslim)

When the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:
“He will not enter Paradise who has a grain of arrogance in his heart”,
a man asked
“A man may like his dress to be nice and his shoes to be nice.”
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:
“Allah is beautiful and loves beauty. Arrogance is to deny rights and look down on people.”
(Abu Dawud & al-Hakim)

Shaykh Ibn Taymiyya (رحمة الله عليه) said that the beauty which Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) likes includes nice clothes. Hence it can be said that Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) likes all nice things (Majmu’a Fatawa). So it is important to look clean and tidy in appearance and have graceful manners, when we meet our fellow believers. This is not only to do with not harming others with our look, or smell, but because we are all attracted to that which looks good and smells good.

A Muslim ought to be recognised by appearance, manners, cleanliness and his/her dealings with others. These facts should be reflected in our own selves, in the cleanliness or appearance of our houses, gardens, cars, everything should be distinct, because all these are part of defining us as Muslims. We shouldn't neglect anything at all, or act as if we are ungrateful for our blessings.