It was reported that (Prophet) Nuh lived in a house made of wool for nine hundred and fifty years. The Messenger salAllāhu ‘alayhi wasallam never put a stone over another [his house was built of mud] and on Umar ibn al-Khattab’s radiAllāhu ‘anhu garment there were twelve patches. This is because they understood that this world is a bridge and a bridge should not be taken as a home. Thus, whoever fails to be aware of this knowledge will be afflicted with the disease of Sharah1, and should cure himself by seeking knowledge and contemplating the biographies of wise scholars.
Footnotes:
1. Sharah: Used for extravagance, and is generally used to refer to gluttony
- Transcribed from: Disciplining the Soul; Tibb al-Ruhāni | Ibn al-Jawzi
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When we compare the lives and temperaments of the four imams, we find that they had different tastes, lifestyle preferences, and temperaments. Some of them liked socialising while others preferred solitude. Some of them had a penchant for simplicity in their clothing, food, and homes. Others had an inclination for beauty and decoration within reasonable limits. Some of them inclined to caution and reserve in their thinking, while others were more concerned about flexibility and alleviating difficulties.
For instance, Mālik took great care with his clothing and appearance. He claimed that this added to the dignity of religious knowledge and religious scholars. He said: “Proper decorum demands that a religious scholar chooses nice clothing to wear in public. It is inappropriate for people to see him except fully dressed, including a nicely arranged turban.”
Mālik wore clothing of the highest quality that was both costly and beautiful, but clothing appropriate to a man of his social standing and position. His clothing came from places like Aden, Khorasan, and Egypt.
Bishr b. al-Hārith said: “I visited Mālik once and saw him wearing a fine robe that must have cost 500. Its collars came to eye level, and it had the appearance of what a king might wear.”
Likewise, Mālik once said about heavy, rough wool: “It is good for nothing except when travelling. This is how the Prophet used to use it. Otherwise, it is a form of ostentatious dress, a way of publicizing one’s asceticism. It is very distasteful for a man’s religiosity to be known by the way he dresses!”
The jurists of Madinah never once saw Mālik poorly dressed. He used to say: “It is liked for anyone whom Allah has blessed with prosperity to let the effects of those blessings be seen. This is especially true for people of religious knowledge. They should always dress respectably, in respect for the value of knowledge.”
Isma`īl b. abī Uways said: “When Mālik died, his household effects, like carpets, cusions, and feather pillows, were sold for 500 gold coins.”
An inventory was taken of his estate upon his death, and among what was found were 500 pairs of sandals, 100 turbans, 2,629 gold coins and a thousand pieces of silver.