(119) Chapter: The Description of the Length of the Qamees' Sleeves, the End of the Turban, and Prohibition of Wearing Long Garments Out of Pride and Undesirability of Wearing Them Without Pride

Qais bin Bishr At-Taghlibi reported that his father, who attended the company of 'Abud-Darda' (May Allah be pleased with him) told him: There was a man in Damascus who was a Companion of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He was called Ibn Al-Hanzaliyyah. He was a lonesome person and would rarely spend some time in the company of people. He would spend most of his time in performing Salat and when he finished, he would engage himself in Tasbih (Subhan-Allah) and Takbir (Allahu Akbar), till he would go home. He passed by us one day when we were sitting with Abud-Darda' (May Allah be pleased with him). The latter said to him: "Tell us something which will benefit for us and will not harm you." He said: "Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent a detachment. When they returned, one of them came to the assemblage in which Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was present and said to his neighbour during the conversation: 'I wish you had seen us when we encountered the enemy. So-and-so (a believer) took up his spear, struck and said: Take this from me and I am the Ghifari boy. Now what do you think of this?' The neighbour said: 'I think that he lost his reward because of boasting.' He said: 'I see no harm in it.' They began to exchange arguments till Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) heard them and said, 'Subhan-Allah (Allah is free from every imperfection). He would be rewarded (in the Hereafter) and praised (in this world)'. I noticed that Abud-Darda' (May Allah be pleased with him) felt a great pleasure at this remark and, raising his head began to repeat: "Have you heard Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say this!" Ibn Al-Hanzaliyyah (May Allah be pleased with him) continued responding till I asked Abud-Darda' (May Allah be pleased with him) not to annoy him. Ibn Al-Hanzaliyyah (May Allah be pleased with him) happened to pass by us another day and Abud-Darda' said to him: "Tell us something which will benefit us and will not harm you." He said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) told us, 'He who spends to purchase a horse (for Jihad) is like one who extends his hand for spending out of charity without withholding it."' He passed by us another day and Abud-Darda' (May Allah be pleased with him) said to him: "Tell us something which might benefit us, and will not harm you." He said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) once said, 'Khuraim Al-Usaidi is an excellent man were it not of his long hair and his lower garment which is hanging down.' When Khuraim heard about what the Prophet had said about him, he trimmed his long hair up to his ears with a knife and raised his lower garment half way on his shanks." On another occasion he passed by us and Abud-Darda' (May Allah be pleased with him) said to him: "Tell us something that will benefit us and will not harm you." He said that he heard Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say, while coming back from an expedition: "You are returning to your brothers, so set your saddles and clothes in order so that you look tidy and graceful. Allah hates untidiness." [Abu Dawud]. Commentary: This Hadith talks about six points. First, a war cry expressive of one's chivalrous deeds and designed to intimidate the enemy is permissible. Second, it is not an impeachable act and will be rewarded by Allah if it is done with a good intention. Third, hair should be grown either up to the earlobes or up to the neck-end as was the Prophet's practice. The Prophet (PBUH) disapproved the long hair upon the shoulders. Fourth, on return from a journey, a man is advised to clean up his appearance and dust-covered clothes; due to the fatigue and dust of journey, he may appear untidy and out of shape. With his ruffled hair and run-down face, whether intentional or unintentional, he will perhaps give a depressive impression to his wife and children and other family members to the displeasure of Allah. Fifth, we may sympathetically allude to the minor shortcomings of a person in his absence for the sake of his moral uplifting. This will not be considered as backbiting. Messenger of Allah (PBUH) talked about Khuraim Al-Usaidi (May Allah be pleased with him) in the same spirit. Sixth, indecency which means something ugly and disgraceful is taken here in an untidy and dishevelled sense which is against aesthetic principles.