Al-Istiqama - Ibn Taimiya - (1/357)

Yet it may be objected that not every fine garment or fine shoe is loved by Allah. Allah hates the wearing of silk and hates extravagance and vanity in dress, even when it possesses beauty. If this applies to clothing—the very occasion for this statement—then how much more so to other things?

This is explained by the Prophet’s saying, may Allah bless him and grant him peace:

“Allah does not look at your appearance or your wealth, but He looks at your hearts and your deeds.”

Thus, mere outward beauty in appearance and clothing is not what Allah looks at; rather, He looks at hearts and deeds. If the outward appearance is adorned and beautified by the inward state, Allah loves it. If it is made ugly and sullied by inward ugliness, Allah hates it. For He, glorified be He, loves what is good and beautiful and hates what is evil and obscene.

Those blessed with physical beauty are often tested with sexual immorality, whose very name conveys the opposite of beauty. Allah has described it as indecency, evil, corruption, and foulness. Allah Most High says:

“Do not go near unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is an indecency and an evil way.”
[Surah al-Isrāʾ 32]

And He says:

“Do not go near indecencies, whether openly or in secret.”
[Surah al-Anʿām 151]

And He says:

“Do you commit an indecency that no one in all the worlds has ever committed before you?”
[Surah al-Aʿrāf 80]

وَقد يرد أَنه لَيْسَ كل ثوب جميل وكل نعل جميل فَإِن الله يُحِبهُ فَإِن الله يبغض لِبَاس الْحَرِير وَيبغض الْإِسْرَاف وَالْخُيَلَاء فِي اللبَاس وَإِن كَانَ فِيهِ جمال فَإِذا كَانَ هَذَا فِي لبس الثِّيَاب الَّذِي هُوَ سَبَب هَذَا القَوْل فَكيف فِي غَيره وَتَفْسِير هَذَا قَوْله ص إِن الله لَا ينظر إِلَى صوركُمْ وَلَا إِلَى أَمْوَالكُم وَلَكِن ينظر إِلَى قُلُوبكُمْ وَأَعْمَالكُمْ فَعلم أَن مُجَرّد الْجمال الظَّاهِر فِي الصُّور وَالثيَاب لَا ينظر الله إِلَيْهِ وَإِنَّمَا ينظر إِلَى الْقُلُوب والأعمال فَإِن كَانَ الظَّاهِر مزينا مُجملا بِحَال الْبَاطِن أحبه الله وَإِن كَانَ مقبحا مدنسا بقبح الْبَاطِن أبغضه الله فَإِنَّهُ سُبْحَانَهُ يحب الْحسن الْجَمِيل وَيبغض السَّيئ الْفَاحِش وَأهل جمال الصُّورَة يبتلون بالفاحشة كثيرا وَاسْمهَا ضد الْجمال فَإِن الله سَمَّاهُ فَاحِشَة وسوءا وَفَسَادًا وخبيثا فَقَالَ تَعَالَى وَلَا تقربُوا الزِّنَا إِنَّه كَانَ فَاحِشَة وساء سَبِيلا [سُورَة الْإِسْرَاء ٣٢] وَقَالَ وَلَا تقربُوا الْفَوَاحِش مَا ظهر مِنْهَا وَمَا بطن [سُورَة الْأَنْعَام ١٥١] وَقَالَ أتأتون الْفَاحِشَة مَا سبقكم بهَا من أحد من الْعَالمين [سُورَة الْأَعْرَاف ٨٠]