37/2. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2069g — Silk Patterns and Limits
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
Hadith on Silk Patterns: Two Fingers and Clear Restraint
Sahih Muslim : 2069g
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2069g
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، وَابْنُ، بَشَّارٍ - وَاللَّفْظُ لاِبْنِ الْمُثَنَّى - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ، بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عُثْمَانَ النَّهْدِيَّ، قَالَ جَاءَنَا كِتَابُ عُمَرَ وَنَحْنُ بِأَذْرَبِيجَانَ مَعَ عُتْبَةَ بْنِ فَرْقَدٍ أَوْ بِالشَّامِ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَهَى عَنِ الْحَرِيرِ إِلاَّ هَكَذَا إِصْبَعَيْنِ . قَالَ أَبُو عُثْمَانَ فَمَا عَتَّمْنَا أَنَّهُ يَعْنِي الأَعْلاَمَ.
Abe 'Uthman al-Nahdi Narrated from:
There came to us a letter of 'Umar as we were in Adharba'ijan or in Syria in the company of 'Utba b. Farqad (and the letter ran thus): After (usual praise and glorification of Allah) it is stated that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) has forbidden the use of silk but to the extent of these two fingers, and Abu Uthman said: We at once understood by these words that he meant (silk) patterns on (the cloth).
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2069gIn-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 30USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 24, Hadith 5154
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2069g
In this narration, Abu Uthman al-Nahdi says that a letter from Umar reached them while they were with Utba b. Farqad in Adharbaijan or Syria. The letter said that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم forbade silk except to the extent of two fingers. Abu Uthman says they quickly understood that this referred to patterns on the cloth. This makes the hadith about silk patterns very specific. It is not a broad discussion of all fabrics or every kind of decoration. The text speaks about silk, a two-finger amount, and patterns. The lesson is to respect a measured limit and not stretch a small allowance into something larger than the wording supports.
What we learn from this hadith
- The report mentions a two-finger exception for silk.
- Abu Uthman understood the wording as referring to cloth patterns.
- The narration teaches restraint in clothing decoration.
- The text should not be stretched beyond the limit it mentions.
