Hadith record

8. Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Bandar Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from Muhammad ibn Ali in a marfu‘ manner has said the following: “Once, Sufyan al-Thawriy passed by Masjid al-Haram (the sacred area) and he saw abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), dressed in fine expensive clothes. He decided to meet him (the Imam) and scold him. He went close and said, ‘O son of the Messenger of Allah, the Messenger of Allah did not dress up with this kind of dress, Ali did not dress with this kind of dress nor did any of your ancestors.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said, ‘The Messenger of Allah (SAW) lived at a time when it was a financially serious and stringent condition. He (the Messenger of Allah) lived according to such conditions but the world thereafter has become financially relaxed. The most deserving in financial opportunities are the virtuous people.’ He (the Imam) then read this verse, ‘Say, who has made unlawful the beautiful things that Allah has brought out for His servants and the fine kinds of means of sustenance.’ (7:32) We are the most deserving of what Allah has granted. However, O Thawriy, what you see I have dressed up with I have done so for people. He (the Imam) pulled his hand to himself and raised the outer layer of his dress. Underneath on his body was a layer of rough textured garment. He (the Imam) said, ‘I wear this for my own soul and what you see (the outer layer) is for people.’ He (the Imam) then raised the outer layer of the garment of Sufyan, which was of rough texture but the layer underneath on his body was of a fine quality. He (the Imam) said, ‘You have dressed up for people with the outer layer and for yourself to enjoy with the fine quality layer underneath.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.