يَـٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ قَدْ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ لِبَاسًا يُوَٰرِى سَوْءَٰتِكُمْ وَرِيشًا ۖ وَلِبَاسُ ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ 26
Translations
O children of Adam, We have bestowed upon you clothing to conceal your private parts and as adornment. But the clothing of righteousness - that is best. That is from the signs of Allāh that perhaps they will remember.
Transliteration
Ya bani Adam qad anzalna alaikum libasan yuwari sawatikum wa reeshan wa libasu al-taqwa dhalika khair dhalika min ayati Allah laalahum yadhakkaron
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah addresses the children of Adam, informing them that He has bestowed upon them clothing (libas) to cover their nakedness and for adornment (reesh). However, the ayah emphasizes that the garment of piety and God-consciousness (libas al-taqwa) is superior to physical clothing. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain this as a comprehensive teaching: while material clothing is a divine blessing, spiritual clothing through piety and righteous conduct is of greater value. The ayah uses the metaphor of clothing to illustrate that inward virtue surpasses outward appearance.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah Al-A'raf and is part of the narrative addressing humanity (Bani Adam) regarding fundamental blessings and moral guidance. It follows the account of Adam's creation and serves as a reminder of divine favors and the importance of taqwa (God-consciousness). The surah's broader context emphasizes guidance, warnings, and the relationship between obedience and blessing.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best garment is the garment of piety (taqwa)' - referenced in various collections as a principle. Additionally, Tirmidhi relates that modesty (haya) is from faith and is closely connected to the concept of covering one's awrah (private parts) with appropriate clothing.
Themes
Key Lesson
While we should be grateful for material blessings like clothing and maintain physical modesty and grooming, we must prioritize cultivating taqwa and inner righteousness, as true honor and dignity come from piety rather than external appearances.
Related Ayahs
فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَأَنجَيْنَـٰهُ وَٱلَّذِينَ مَعَهُۥ فِى ٱلْفُلْكِ وَأَغْرَقْنَا ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ قَوْمًا عَمِينَ
But they denied him, so We saved him and those who were with him in the ship. And We drowned those who denied Our signs. Indeed, they were a blind people.
قَالَ ٱلْمَلَأُ مِن قَوْمِ فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَسَـٰحِرٌ عَلِيمٌ
Said the eminent among the people of Pharaoh, "Indeed, this is a learned magician
قُلْ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنِّى رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ جَمِيعًا ٱلَّذِى لَهُۥ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ يُحْىِۦ وَيُمِيتُ ۖ فَـَٔامِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ٱلنَّبِىِّ ٱلْأُمِّىِّ ٱلَّذِى يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَكَلِمَـٰتِهِۦ وَٱتَّبِعُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ
Say, [O Muḥammad], "O mankind, indeed I am the Messenger of Allāh to you all, [from Him] to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. There is no deity except Him; He gives life and causes death." So believe in Allāh and His Messenger, the unlettered prophet, who believes in Allāh and His words, and follow him that you may be guided.
وَإِن تَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَى ٱلْهُدَىٰ لَا يَتَّبِعُوكُمْ ۚ سَوَآءٌ عَلَيْكُمْ أَدَعَوْتُمُوهُمْ أَمْ أَنتُمْ صَـٰمِتُونَ
And if you [believers] invite them to guidance, they will not follow you. It is all the same for you whether you invite them or you are silent.