Clothing
From Bahai9
Contents |
Lack of requirements as to specific clothing
The choice of clothing (and the dressing of the beard) are left to the discretion of men (but not to make selves playthings of the ignorant)
"The seventh Glad-Tidings
"The choice of clothing and the cut of the beard and its dressing are left to the discretion of men. But beware, O people, lest ye make yourselves the playthings of the ignorant."
Former restrictions on clothing removed
"It hath been forbidden you to carry arms unless essential, and permitted you to attire yourselves in silk. The Lord hath relieved you, as a bounty on His part, of the restrictions that formerly applied to clothing and to the trim of the beard. He, verily, is the Ordainer, the Omniscient."
- (Bahá'u'lláh, Kitáb-i-Aqdas, par. 159)
"Many rules about dress had their origins in the laws and traditional practices of the world's religions. For example, the Shí'ih clergy adopted for themselves a distinctive headdress and robes and, at one time, forbade the people to adopt European attire. Muslim practice, in its desire to emulate the custom of the Prophet, also introduced a number of restrictions with regard to the trim of the moustache and the length of the beard.
"Bahá'u'lláh removed such limitations on one's apparel and beard. He leaves such matters to the "discretion" of the individual..."
- (Notes to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, no. 175)
Permitted to wear silk
"It hath been forbidden you to carry arms unless essential, and permitted you to attire yourselves in silk. The Lord hath relieved you, as a bounty on His part, of the restrictions that formerly applied to clothing and to the trim of the beard. He, verily, is the Ordainer, the Omniscient."
- (Bahá'u'lláh, Kitáb-i-Aqdas, par. 159)
"According to Islamic practice, the wearing of silk by men was generally forbidden, except in times of holy war. This prohibition, which was not based on the verses of the Qur'án, was abrogated by the Báb."
- (Notes to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, no. 174)
Moderation and chastity required
Believers not to transgress the bounds of propriety and excercise moderation in all that pertains to dress
"It hath been forbidden you to carry arms unless essential, and permitted you to attire yourselves in silk. The Lord hath relieved you, as a bounty on His part, of the restrictions that formerly applied to clothing and to the trim of the beard. He, verily, is the Ordainer, the Omniscient. Let there be naught in your demeanour of which sound and upright minds would disapprove, and make not yourselves the playthings of the ignorant. Well is it with him who hath adorned himself with the vesture of seemly conduct and a praiseworthy character. He is assuredly reckoned with those who aid their Lord through distinctive and outstanding deeds."
- (Bahá'u'lláh, Kitáb-i-Aqdas, par. 159)
"Bahá'u'lláh removed such limitations on one's apparel and beard. He leaves such matters to the "discretion" of the individual, and at the same time calls upon the believers not to transgress the bounds of propriety and to exercise moderation in all that pertains to dress.
- (Notes to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, no. 175)
Moderation in dress an implication of a chaste and holy life
"Such a chaste and holy life, with its implications of modesty, purity, temperance, decency, and clean-mindedness, involves no less than the exercise of moderation in all that pertains to dress, language, amusements, and all artistic and literary avocations."
- (Shoghi Effendi, The Advent of Divine Justice, p. 30)
To wear clean clothing
- See Clean clothing.
See also
- Inheritance (regarding the inheritance of unused or used clothing)
- Burial (regarding the dress of the deceased)
- Ornamentation (regarding other items worn)
Todos for this page
- Find the abrogation of the practice on silk by the Báb
