۞ يَـٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ خُذُوا۟ زِينَتَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ وَكُلُوا۟ وَٱشْرَبُوا۟ وَلَا تُسْرِفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُسْرِفِينَ 31
Translations
O children of Adam, take your adornment [i.e., wear your clothing] at every masjid, and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess.
Transliteration
Ya bani Adam khudhu zinatakum inda kulli masjid wa kulu washrabu wa la tusrifuh. Innahu la yuhibbu al-musrifin.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the children of Adam to wear their adornment (clean and appropriate clothing) when entering places of worship and permits them to eat and drink, while strictly forbidding extravagance and wastefulness. Ibn Kathir explains that 'zinah' (adornment) refers to proper clothing, and the prohibition of 'israf' (extravagance) applies to all aspects of life, teaching moderation and gratitude as core Islamic values. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that this ayah balances spiritual devotion with permissible worldly enjoyment, rejecting both ascetic extremism and hedonistic excess.
Revelation Context
This ayah addresses a broader Meccan theme concerning proper conduct and etiquette in religious practice. It responds to the pre-Islamic Arabian practice of some groups performing tawaf (circumambulation) naked, claiming ritual purity, which Islam firmly rejected. The surah continues Allah's guidance to humanity (Bani Adam) regarding moral and social conduct, establishing balanced principles for Muslim life.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Indeed, Allah loves to see the traces of His blessing upon His servant' (Tirmidhi), reinforcing the encouragement to wear clean adornment. Additionally, the hadith 'Moderation is half of life' relates to the prohibition of israf (extravagance) mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims are encouraged to present themselves respectfully and cleanly in worship while enjoying life's permissible blessings, but must always practice moderation and avoid wastefulness. This teaches that Islam embraces a middle path—neither rejecting the world ascetically nor indulging excessively—fostering both spiritual devotion and dignified living.
Related Ayahs
وَلُوطًا إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِۦٓ أَتَأْتُونَ ٱلْفَـٰحِشَةَ مَا سَبَقَكُم بِهَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِّنَ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
And [We had sent] Lot when he said to his people, "Do you commit such immorality as no one has preceded you with from among the worlds [i.e., peoples]?
۞ هُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفْسٍ وَٰحِدَةٍ وَجَعَلَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا لِيَسْكُنَ إِلَيْهَا ۖ فَلَمَّا تَغَشَّىٰهَا حَمَلَتْ حَمْلًا خَفِيفًا فَمَرَّتْ بِهِۦ ۖ فَلَمَّآ أَثْقَلَت دَّعَوَا ٱللَّهَ رَبَّهُمَا لَئِنْ ءَاتَيْتَنَا صَـٰلِحًا لَّنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلشَّـٰكِرِينَ
It is He who created you from one soul and created from it its mate that he might dwell in security with her. And when he [i.e., man] covers her, she carries a light burden [i.e., a pregnancy] and continues therein. And when it becomes heavy, they both invoke Allāh, their Lord, "If You should give us a good [child], we will surely be among the grateful."
وَجَآءَ ٱلسَّحَرَةُ فِرْعَوْنَ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّ لَنَا لَأَجْرًا إِن كُنَّا نَحْنُ ٱلْغَـٰلِبِينَ
And the magicians came to Pharaoh. They said, "Indeed for us is a reward if we are the predominant."
قَالَ فِيهَا تَحْيَوْنَ وَفِيهَا تَمُوتُونَ وَمِنْهَا تُخْرَجُونَ
He said, "Therein you will live, and therein you will die, and from it you will be brought forth."