Forbidden Seven

Abu Umara al-Bara ibn Azib said, "The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) instructed us to do seven things and forbade us seven.... He forbade us gold rings, drinking from silver vessels, red silk, fine silk, mixed silk and cotton, wearing silk and istibraq silk, and brocade." [Sahih Bukhari]

Those materials are forbidden the wearing of which would incline a man to a luxurious and easy lifestyle. Men have to be prepared to defend the sanctity of Muslim land, Muslim life and the Islamic lifestyle, which they would have difficulty doing were they to get used to being cradled in silk.

Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) might then ask, "O believers! What is the matter with you that when you are asked to march forth in the way of Allah, you cling to the earth? Do you prefer the life of this world to the life of the hereafter? If it is so, then you should know that the comforts of this life are little compared to the life of the hereafter." [Quran 9:38]