Correspondence of Hazrat Moulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (rahimahullah)
Condition:
I like beautiful and good clothes and shoes. Is it fine to purchase and wear these?
Does doing so entail love for the world? Will it be an obstacle for the love of Allah Ta‘ala entering my heart?
Answer:
Paying too much of attention to this is not good. It is the habit of some women to wear a new set of clothing for every different occasion. As long as you have clothes, shoes, etc. do not purchase new ones unnecessarily. Wear the same clothes for all occasions.
Hazrat Thaanwi (rahimahullah) said, “When the love of jewellery and clothing leaves a woman’s heart, it is a sign that she has become a person of nisbat (she has developed a close affinity with Allah Ta‘ala).”
(Solutions to Spiritual Maladies for the Lovers of Allah Ta‘ala, pg. 476)
Uswatul Muslimah Comment: While it is permissible to have good clothing provided it conforms to sharee‘ah, the practise of many women that they must have new garments for every function is the particular aspect that is being warned against. Even if a garment was worn only once, many will not wear it on another occasion because “they already saw me in this outfit”. Such thinking falls under the ambit of the hadeeth, “The one who wears garments to show off, Allah Ta‘ala will dress him in garments of disgrace on the Day of Qiyaamah.” (Sunan ibni Maajah #3606)