Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

assalam alykum,

I have a question regarding wearing gold jewellary n dressing up in parties. is it called showing off? bcoz v dont wear it all da time but while going 2 attend any party or gathering v wear Gold n stuff. n anytime v buy sumthing new, v wear 2 show our friends, not 2 make dem feel inferior but just bcoz v r excited abt da new thing v bot. is it showing off? i m so very worried bcoz i read a hadees wich says dat women who wear gold 2 show off, will face tough time in hell.

plz answer my question as early as possible.

Jaza Kallah Khair.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Wear gold and new clothes to show off

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: I have a question regarding wearing gold jewellary n dressing up in parties. is it called showing off?

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 7 Surah Aaraaf verse 26:

26 O ye children of Adam! We have bestowed raiment (clothing) upon you to cover your shame, as well as to be an adornment to you; but the raiment of righteousness that is the best. Such are among the Signs of Allah that they may receive admonition!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 7 Surah Aaraaf verse 31:

31 O children of Adam! Wear your beautiful apparel at every time and place of prayer: eat and drink: but waste not by excess for Allah loveth not the wasters.

Beloved Sister in Islam, Islam does not prohibit the believers from wearing good or new clothes, or prohibit the womenfolk from adorning themselves with aids of beauty or jewelry. Allah Subhanah Himself Commands the believers to wear their best and most beautiful apparel whenever they present themselves in audience to Him in their prayers, and the Messenger of Allah (saws) time and again guided the believers to wear their best apparel when they proceeded for their Eid or Friday prayers. There is evidence in the Sunnah that when the Messenger of Allah (saws) in his capacity as the leader of the believers met the foreign delegations which came to meet him, he (saws) would wear the finest clothes which he possesed.

Thus there is absolutely no harm if one wears new, or good, clean clothes when going out to meet their family or friends or brethren.

What is absolutely discouraged in Islam that one become obsessed with their looks and their clothes and their adornments, or their whole effort and energy revolves around possessing or wearing the thing which is better and more expensive than anyone they meet, or start or engage in a competition of who has the best dress, or the best or most jewelry, etc.….all such acts would be absolutely discouraged and against the very etiquette of humility and piety in Islam.

But if one has absolutely no intentions to compare or compete, but only wishes to be pure, clean, and presentable when they meet amongst their brethren….there is absolutely no harm in wearing new clothes or the womenfolk adorning themselves with aids of beauty or jewelry when in the presence of their mehram relatives.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 7 Surah Aaraaf verses 32-33:

32 Say: ‘Who hath forbidden the beautiful (gifts) of Allah which He hath produced for his servants and the things clean and pure (which He hath provided) for sustenance?’ Say: ‘they are in the life of this world for those who believe, (and) purely for them on the Day of Judgment.’ Thus do We explain the Signs in detail for those who understand.

33 Say: ‘The things that my Lord hath indeed forbidden are: shameful deeds whether open or secret; sins and trespasses against truth or reason; assigning of partners to Allah for which he hath given no authority; and saying things about Allah of which ye have no knowledge.’

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan