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Clothing is a bounty that is exclusive to humans. No other creation
enjoys such a bounty. Allah Ta'ala has made reference to this blessing
in the Qur'aan, 'O Mankind, we have indeed granted you clothing that
covers your shame and that is a means of adornment.' (al-A'raaf
Aayat26). The Historians state that it was Nabi Idrees Úáíå ÓáÇã
who was the first person to sow garments of cloth. Prior to that, man
used animal skin as his garb. (al-awaail, li Suyuti pg.85)
Suppose for a moment that man had to throd the earth as an animal
does, with only his skin as his clothing. Imagine the shame and
inconvenience it would have caused yet Almighty Allah has provided us
with a huge variety of garments.
As
the seasons change and with the passage of time, one feels the need to
acquire new clothing. At times, when new garments arrive, the old ones
tend to find a place in the corner of the wardrobe/closet, never to be
worn again. Have we ever reflected over the agony of that person who
has to endure the icy winds of winter, while we have a wide range of
warm clothing lying unused? When one adopts the Sunnah of Rasulullah
Sallallahu Alayhi Wassalam , then even those 'useless' old clothes
become ‘useful’.
Upon receiving new clothes, Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi
Wassalam
would donate his old clothes and say, 'Whoever adorns new clothes,
recites the following du'aa and thereafter donates his old clothing to
a poor Muslim, remains in the protection, patronage and Divine veil of
Almighty Allah throughout his life as well as after his demise. As
long as even one thread (of the donated clothing) remains on
somebody's body.’
‘Alhamdulillaahi ladhiy kasaaniy maa uwaari bihi awratiy wa
atajammalu bihi fiy hayaatiy’
(Sunan
al-Tirmidhi Hadith3560; Al-Mustadrak vol.4 pg.193)
The narrator of this Hadith, Sayyiduna Umar (r) would
annually embark on a winter-warmth programme. He Sallallahu
Alayhi Wassalam would encourage the Muslims to keep warm and even
ensure that they had sufficient woollen socks, jerseys, etc. (Lataaiful
Ma'arif pg.564)
In
the narration of Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbaas (r) , Rasulullah
Sallallahu Alayhi Wassalam is reported to have said, 'He who
clothes any destitute Muslim, remains in the security of Allah as long
as a single piece remains on his body.' (Sunan al-Tirmidhi Hadith2484;
Shu'abul Imaan Hadith8575)
The rewards stated above are obtained by one when the destitute merely
dons those garments. The reward will definitely multiply if he were to
adorn those clothes whilst offering Salaat, observing the fast or any
other virtuous deed.
With the arrival of Winter, many of us may have purchased new garments
to combat the weather whilst there remains out there many others who
cannot afford to do so. These less fortunate ones include innocent
children, as well as weak senior citizens. Their plight is worsened
further by the power shortages in certain areas. This affords us an
ideal opportunity of practising upon this noble Sunnah of Rasulullah
Sallallahu Alayhi Wassalam . Furthermore, as a Muslim minority, this
also affords us the opportunity to extend the warmth of Islam to the
indigenous population of our country. Imagine the reward one could
acquire, if through this simple deed somebody embraces Islam. If this
is the reward for donating old clothes, what would be in store for one
who donates new clothing? With the motive being ‘Winter Warmth’, one
may even consider donating blankets, heaters, soup kitchens, etc. The
potential for growth is unimaginable!
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