37/2. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2069c — Silk Borders and Simple Living
The Prohibition Of Using Vessels Of Gold And Silver For Men And Women, And Gold Rings And Silk For Men, But They Are Permissible For Women. Permissibility Of Silken Borders On Garments For Men, But It Should Not Be More Than Four Fingers Wide
Silk Border Hadith: Simple Living and a Measured Limit
Sahih Muslim : 2069c
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2069c
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا عَاصِمٌ الأَحْوَلُ، عَنْ أَبِي، عُثْمَانَ قَالَ كَتَبَ إِلَيْنَا عُمَرُ وَنَحْنُ بِأَذْرَبِيجَانَ يَا عُتْبَةَ بْنَ فَرْقَدٍ إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنْ كَدِّكَ وَلاَ مِنْ كَدِّ أَبِيكَ وَلاَ مِنْ كَدِّ أُمِّكَ فَأَشْبِعِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فِي رِحَالِهِمْ مِمَّا تَشْبَعُ مِنْهُ فِي رَحْلِكَ وَإِيَّاكُمْ وَالتَّنَعُّمَ وَزِيَّ أَهْلِ الشِّرْكِ وَلَبُوسَ الْحَرِيرِ فَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَهَى عَنْ لَبُوسِ الْحَرِيرِ . قَالَ " إِلاَّ هَكَذَا " . وَرَفَعَ لَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِصْبَعَيْهِ الْوُسْطَى وَالسَّبَّابَةَ وَضَمَّهُمَا قَالَ زُهَيْرٌ قَالَ عَاصِمٌ هَذَا فِي الْكِتَابِ . قَالَ وَرَفَعَ زُهَيْرٌ إِصْبَعَيْهِ .
Abu `Uthman Narrated from:
'Umar wrote to us when we were in Adharba'ijan saying: 'Utba b. Farqad, this wealth is neither the result of your own labour nor the result of the labour of your father, nor the result of the labour of your mother, so feed Muslims at their own places as you feed (members of your family and yourselves at your own residence), and beware of the life of pleasure, and the dress of the polytheists and wearing of silk garments, for Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) forbade the wearing of silk garments, but only this much, and Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) raised his. forefinger and middle finger and he joined. them (to indicate that only this much silk can be allowed in the dress of a man).'Asim said also: This is what is recorded in the lette., (sent to us), and Zuhair raised his two fingers (to give an idea of the extent to which silk may be used).
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2069cIn-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 26USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 24, Hadith 5151
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2069c
This narration comes through a letter from Umar to Utba b. Farqad. Umar reminds him that the wealth he has is not from his own labor, nor from the labor of his parents, and tells him to feed the Muslims as he feeds his own household. Then he warns against a life of pleasure, the dress of the polytheists, and wearing silk garments. He reports that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم forbade wearing silk, except for a small amount shown by raising and joining two fingers. The hadith about silk borders is practical: it joins care for people, simple living, and a measured exception in clothing. The text does not leave the matter vague; it gives a visual sign for the allowed amount mentioned in the report.
What we learn from this hadith
- Leaders should care that Muslims are fed fairly.
- The narration warns against luxury and imitation in dress.
- Silk garments are forbidden here except for a small measured amount.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used a clear hand sign to show the limit mentioned.
