who were finer in furnishings and appearance!” Furnishings means possessions, such as clothing and the like, while appearance means outward looks. He thus tells us that those He destroyed before them were more beautiful in appearance and had finer furnishings and greater wealth, showing that these things avail nothing with Him and carry no weight.
The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:
“No Arab is superior to a non-Arab, nor any non-Arab to an Arab; no white person is superior to a black person, nor any black person to a white person, except through piety.”
It is also reported from him in the Sunan collections that he said:
“Plainness in dress is part of faith.”
Moreover, He has forbidden us certain things among the greatest beauties of this world: silk and gold attire, and vessels of gold and silver. Allah has forbidden boasting, arrogance, and clothing that expresses them, such as excessively long garments. Indeed, it is authentically reported that the Prophet said:
“Whoever drags his garment out of arrogance, Allah will not look at him on the Day of Resurrection.”
Similarly, an authentic report from Abū Hurayrah relates that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:
“On the Day of Resurrection, Allah will not look at anyone who drags his lower garment out of conceit.”
Another authentic report, from Ibn ‘Umar, relates that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:
“While a man was dragging his lower garment out of arrogance, the earth swallowed him up, and he will continue sinking into it until the Day of Resurrection.”
Allah, Exalted is He, said:
“O children of Adam, We have bestowed upon you clothing to conceal your private parts and finery. But the clothing of righteousness—that is best. That is among the signs of Allah.”
He thus tells us that the clothing of righteousness is better than those things.
He, Exalted is He, also said:
“What of one brought up amid adornments, unable to make a clear case in dispute?”
And He, Exalted is He, said concerning Qārūn:
“So he came out before