In the previous session, whether adornment in clothing is permissible. We explained how homes may be beautified and decorated.
Now the question moves further: When it comes to clothing whether for men or women
- Can it be decorative?
- must it remain plain?
- Are designs allowed?
- Are there conditions?
If we ask this question—are there any restrictions on adornment in clothing? —the answer is clear: There are no restrictions at all… except one: men are not permitted to wear silk. Other than that, there are no conditions placed upon clothing in terms of design or beautification.
Allahﷻ says in the Qur’an, in Surah Al-A‘raf (7:31): “O children of Adam, take your adornment at every place of prayer… eat and drink, but do not be excessive.”
Reflect on this carefully. At the very moment Allahﷻ speaks about avoiding waste, He also commands: “Adorn yourselves.” When you come to the masjid—come beautified, presentable, refined.
In many other traditions, when people go to places of worship, they strip themselves of adornment. They wear the simplest, roughest forms—believing that humility lies in appearing deprived. But Islam says the opposite: Come to the masjid in your best form and make yourself clean, dignified and more presentable.
Adornment is not merely allowed—it is encouraged. Now understand what “adornment” includes.
It includes:
- high-quality garment.
- Fine stitching.
- Patterns and designs which intricate decorative styles.
So, can we wear such clothes? Yes, we can wear it freely without any restriction. Both men and woman may wear then but there is a distinction.
Women are permitted to adorn themselves—but they are not permitted to display that adornment publicly before non-related men. Inside the home, among their mahram relatives, there is no restriction. They may adorn themselves however they wish.
Now, there are certain groups—especially among some Sufi circles—who promote an extreme idea that:
- one must abandon adornment entirely.
- one must live in a state of visible deprivation.
- simplicity must resemble poverty.
- one must appear like a beggar to be spiritually elevated.
They themselves dress in such a way and claim: “This is true piety.” but Allahﷻ strongly rebukes this mindset.
He says: “Say: Who has forbidden the adornment of Allahﷻ which He has brought forth for His servants…?”
Who has the right to declare haram what Allahﷻ has made halal? Allahﷻ is the One who created beauty, one who provided adornment, one who gave pure provisions.
So, who are you to forbid them?
If Allahﷻ gave you beauty—why reject it?
If Allahﷻ gave you clothing—why degrade it?
If Allahﷻ did not declare something haram—why do you?
This is what Allahﷻ condemns. So, we have to understand that Adornment is not a sin.
A watch worth ₹100… or ₹1 lakh… both are adornment. If Allahﷻ has given you the means then there is no problem wearing it. But there is one danger: Arrogance.
If you begin to think: “I am superior because of what I wear…”
That is where the problem begins.
The Prophetﷺ ﷺ said: “Whoever has even an atom’s weight of arrogance in his heart will not enter Paradise.”
The companions then asked: “O Messenger of Allahﷻ, a man loves that his clothes look good, and his shoes look good—does this count as arrogance?”
The Prophetﷺ ﷺ replied: “Allahﷻ is beautiful, and He loves beauty.”
Then he explained: “Arrogance is rejecting the truth and looking down upon people.”
So, wearing beautiful clothes is not arrogance but thinking: “I am better than others because of what I wear…” that is arrogance. So, you may wear:
- Expensive clothes
- Stylish footwear
- Elegant designs
All of it is permissible but your heart must remain pure.
Now let us move to women and adornment.
During the time of the Prophetﷺ, it was common for brides to be beautified extensively before marriage. They were adorned with jewellery, garments, ornaments—far more than in ordinary days.
Is this allowed? Yes.
There is no restriction on beautifying the bride. The only restriction is Where that beauty is shown.
A woman may display her adornment:
- Before her father
- Her sons
- Her brothers
- Her nephews
- Other women
But not before unrelated men.
A beautiful narration from tells us: Aisha (RA) had a special garment—an adorned dress—which she did not wear regularly. Whenever a woman got married, she would borrow that dress from Aisha (RA) to beautify herself for the wedding.
This shows clearly: There were specific garments meant purely for adornment.
Just like today:
- Bridal jewellery
- Decorative headpieces
- Neck ornaments
- Bangles and accessories
Even rented adornments—used for a day or two—are part of this culture and none of this is forbidden. Women are naturally inclined toward beauty and men are naturally inclined to appreciate that beauty.
So why would Allahﷻ forbid something that aligns with natural disposition?
Yet, some people still feel guilty even when they adorn themselves, they think: “This might be wrong… but I cannot avoid it…”
No. There is no need for such guilt. Adornment is permitted but again—the condition is do not turn yourself into a public display. Adornment must remain within its rightful boundaries.
Another narration:
When Aisha (RA) was sent to the Prophetﷺ after marriage, her mother Umm Ruman prepared her. She entrusted her to a group of women. Those women gathered—and adorned her beautifully before sending her to the Prophetﷺ.
This shows: Adornment is not only allowed—it was practiced among the companions.
Now we move to another example.
Subay‘ah (RA), the wife of Sa‘d ibn Khawla (RA)—a companion who participated in Badr—lost her husband during the Farewell Hajj. At the time of his death, she was pregnant.
Now, what is her waiting period (‘iddah)?
If a woman is not pregnant → Four months and ten days.
But if she is pregnant→ Until she gives birth.
So, if she is four months pregnant when her husband dies, she may remain in ‘iddah for six months—until delivery. This is the ruling and we must understand that Iddah does not mean imprisonment.
It simply means: She cannot remarry during that period. That is the essence of ‘iddah.
So, in all these discussions—clothing, adornment, beauty, marriage, waiting periods—Islam does not suppress natural human tendencies. It regulates, refines and them dignity—without excess, without arrogance, and without moral corruption.
This is the balance of Islam.
There is no prohibition on adornment. There is no absolute ban on beautification. There is no command that one must remain deprived of appearance.
Now consider this woman…
She was in the final stage of pregnancy—almost nine months. Her husband passed away while she was in that condition. Shortly after his death, she gave birth.
And once she delivered, and once the postnatal bleeding (nifaas) ceased, she began to adorn herself.
Why? Because she understood her situation.
She thought: “Now I am free… if I am to remarry, should I not present myself well?”
So she beautified herself. But then, a companion—Abu Sanabil—approached her and objected:
“What are you doing? You are in ‘iddah! Four months and ten days—you cannot adorn yourself!”
He had understood one ruling—but not the complete picture. Yes, Allahﷻ mentions four months and ten days.
But Allahﷻ also says: For a pregnant woman, the waiting period ends with childbirth.
He knew one part—but not the other. So, what does this woman do? She does not argue or justify herself. She goes straight to the Messenger of Allahﷻ and there, the truth is clarified.
The Prophetﷺ ﷺ tells her: “You have done correctly. Once you delivered, your ‘iddah ended. If you wish to remarry, you may adorn yourself.”
Now reflect on this. Adornment is restricted only during ‘iddah. Once ‘iddah ends—adornment is allowed again and even then—adornment is not for public display. It is within appropriate settings which is among women and other mahram relatives because proposals do not come through public display—but through dignified recognition.
Yet, in many places—even today—what do people do?
If a woman’s husband dies, they impose lifelong restrictions:
- Wear only white
- No remarriage
- No adornment ever again
This is not Islam. Even within Muslim societies, in some villages, these practices still exist but Islam does not impose such lifelong suffering.
Now understand ‘iddah properly.
People think ‘iddah means:
- Stay locked inside
- Do not step outside
- Do not speak to anyone
- Live in isolation
But this is not the reality.
Look at the example of Umm Salama (RA).
When her husband Abu Salama passed away, she left her home, approached Prophetﷺ and she sought comfort.
Did the Prophetﷺ ﷺ say: “Why did you leave your house? You are in ‘iddah!”
No. He did not question her movement Instead; he taught her a supplication.
So what is ‘iddah? It is simply a waiting period during which marriage is not allowed.
That is all.
Adornment during ‘iddah is restricted:
- No beautification
- No decorative clothing
- No cosmetic enhancements
But outside of that:
- She may go out
- She may work
- She may visit the masjid
- She may interact respectfully as usual
Even communication is allowed.
Allahﷻ says in the Qur’an: Do not propose marriage directly during ‘iddah—but indirect speech is allowed.
For example, one may say: “If I find someone like you, I will consider marriage…”
But not: “I want to marry you.”
Yet today, people go to extremes.
They say:
- Do not speak to any man
- Do not be seen
- Do not even interact when necessary
Some even go to irrational beliefs like pregnant women should not be seen because the unborn child may be affected. All of this is cultural—not Islamic.
The rules during ‘iddah are the same as always. There is no special restriction on normal interaction beyond modesty. The only additional condition is No remarriage during that period.
And understand the wisdom.
If a woman is pregnant—
- how can she remarry immediately?
- How can lineage be preserved?
- How can certainty be maintained?
That is why the waiting period exists not as punishment but as protection.
But what have people turned it into?
- Isolation
- Emotional suffering
- Cultural oppression
Locking women in dark rooms and forcing unwanted rituals. None of this is from Islam. So, this woman after childbirth, waited briefly until her postnatal period ended. Then she began to adorn herself which was approved.
From this, we understand clearly: Adornment itself is not prohibited in Islam.
It is only restricted during specific conditions—like ‘iddah and even then, the restriction is limited.
Now another incident.
The Prophetﷺ was gifted a beautifully designed garment by a man named Abu Jahm. It was richly decorated, detailed, visually striking. The Prophetﷺ accepted it, wore it, and prayed in it but after the prayer—he immediately removed it, with visible discomfort.
He said: “This garment distracted me in my prayer.”
Understand this carefully.
He did not reject adornment. He wore it first, but when it affected his concentration in salah—he removed it.
So, what is the ruling?
Adornment is allowed but anything that distracts from worship should be avoided—during prayer. Not all adornment is prohibited, only that which interferes with devotion and even this depends on context.
In earlier times, decorative clothing was rare. So, when someone wore it—it drew attention.
But today? Everyone wears designed clothing. So, it no longer distracts in the same way.
So, the principle is simple: If it distracts you—avoid it in prayer and if it does not—there is no issue.
Another narration.
The Prophetﷺ ﷺ received a garment with beautiful patterns. He called a young girl—Umm Khalid—and gave it to her. She had lived in Abyssinia and understood its language.
The Prophetﷺ ﷺ admired the garment, touched its design, and said: “Sana! Sana!” (meaning: Beautiful! Beautiful!)
Look at this scene. The Prophetﷺ ﷺ was appreciating beauty, admiring design, expressing delight.
So what do we learn? Adornment is not just permitted—it is acknowledged, appreciated, and part of human nature.
The only boundaries are:
- No arrogance
- No public display beyond limits
- No distraction in worship
Other than that—
- Clothing may be beautiful.
- Designs may be worn.
- Adornment may be embraced.
And even footwear, ornaments, and accessories have their own rulings—which, in shaa Allahﷻ, will be discussed in the upcoming posts.
This is the balance of Islam—beauty with discipline, freedom with guidance, and adornment without arrogance.