(67) Looking after one’s appearance

(67) Looking after one’s appearance

Once, Abu Hanifah was sitting amongst his students in the mosque, giving them a class. He had a pain in his knee, due to which he had stretched out his leg and was leaning against a wall. Meanwhile, a man with a majestic appearance came to him wearing a nice garment and a fine turban. He walked in a very dignified manner.When the students saw him, they made way for him so that he could sit next to Abu Hanifah.

When Abu Hanifah saw his appearance and sedateness, he became embarrassed of the way in which he was sitting, so he bent his leg and endured the pain in his knee. Abu Hanifah continued to deliver his lecture as the man listened. When the lesson finished, the students began to ask questions.The man raised his hand to ask a question, so Abu Hanifah turned to him and said, “What is your question?”

He said, “O Shaykh! When does the time for the Maghrib prayer enter”

Abu Hanifah replied, “When the sun sets!”

He said, “What if the night falls and the sun still hasn’t set?

What should we do then?”

Abu Hanifah then said, ‘”It’s time for Abu Hanifah to spread his leg…” and spread his leg he did!

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He refused to answer such an absurd question, for how could the night fall when the sun has not set?

They say that the first look makes up for 70% of a person’s impression of you. To me, it seems upon contemplation that the first look makes up for 95% of the impression, until you speak or introduce yourself. Then this percentage either increases or decreases.

If you walk through a passageway in a hospital or a company and next to you there is a man wearing nice clothes who is walking sedately, you will notice that you –perhaps subconsciously– would turn to him upon reaching a door and say, “Please, you first!”

In contrast, if you were to enter a car of one of your friends and saw that its interior was in complete chaos with a shoe lying here, takeaway bags there, a tissue here, and audio cassettes there, you would have the immediate impression about the person that he was chaotic and uncaring about arranging things. The same applies to the way people dress and how they generally appear. What I mean here is to be concerned with one’s appearance and not extravagance in clothing, cars, furniture, etc.

The Messenger of Allah Peace be upon himwould give much consideration to these aspects. He would wear a beautiful robe which he would only wear on the two ‘Eids and Fridays. He used to have a special robe he would wear when receiving envoys. He would give great consideration to his appearance and smell, and would love perfume.

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Anas –may Allah be pleased with him– said, “He had the brightest skin colour. His sweat was pearl-like. When he walked, he leant forward slightly. I have never touched a piece of silk as soft as the hand of the Messenger of Allah Peace be upon him. I have never smelt a perfume or an ambergris better than the smell of the Prophet Peace be upon him. His hand was perfumed as though he had just withdrawn it from the place where a perfume maker keeps his tools. He was recognised merely by his scent whenever he came.”

Anas –may Allah be pleased with him– also said, “The Messenger of Allah Peace be upon himwould never refuse perfume. He had the most beautiful face. His face was as bright as the sun. Whenever he became happy, his face brightened, as if it were a piece of moon.”

Jabir bin Samurah said, “I once saw the Messenger of Allah Peace be upon him on a night illuminated by a full moon. I compared the Messenger of Allah Peace be upon himto the moon whilst he was wearing a red robe. To me, he seemed more beautiful than the moon.”

The Prophet Peace be upon himwould encourage the Muslims to look after their appearance.

Abul-Haws narrates from his father that he said, “I came to the Prophet Peace be upon himwearing a rough garment.

He said, ‘Do you have any wealth?’

‘Yes’, I said.

He said, ‘What do you have?’

I said, ‘Camels, cows, cattle, horses and slaves.’

He said, ‘If Allah gives you wealth, then let the affects of Allah’s bounty and honour upon you be shown in your appearance.’”

The Prophet Peace be upon himsaid, “Whoever Allah blesses with a bounty, Allah likes to see the affects of that bounty appear on His servant.”

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Jabir bin ‘Abdullah –may Allah be pleased with him– said, “Once the Messenger of Allah Peace be upon himcame to our house for a visit and saw a man with dishevelled hair. He said: ‘Couldn’t he find anything to comb his hair with?’”

On another occasion he saw a man wearing dirty clothes, and said, “Couldn’t he find water to wash his clothes with?”

He Peace be upon himalso said, “Whoever has hair should honour it.”

He used to encourage people to demonstrate good behaviour and have a beautiful appearance, nice clothes and a fine smell. He often used to say, “Allah is beautiful and loves beauty.” (Muslim)

Experience…

The first look makes up for 70% of the impression people get of you.

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