to Allah through anything better than fulfilling the duties He has enjoined upon him, and a servant continues to draw near to Allah through voluntary acts until He loves him.

Recommended voluntary acts that do not prevent the fulfilment of obligations are among the means by which Allah raises a person’s rank. Forgoing superfluous permissible things—those not needed to perform an obligatory or recommended act—while giving others preference in their enjoyment is something for which Allah rewards a person. Whoever forgoes them merely out of miserliness, rather than to draw near to Allah, is not praiseworthy. Whoever abstains from a category of things Allah has permitted, seeking to draw near to Him through that abstention, is mistaken and misguided. Whoever enjoys the food and clothing Allah has permitted, displaying Allah’s blessings and using them to help him obey Allah, is rewarded for doing so.

As for the words of Allah Most High:

“Then, on that Day, you will surely be questioned about the blessings you enjoyed.”

This means being questioned about gratitude for those blessings. The servant will be required to give due thanks to Allah for the blessings he enjoyed. Allah, glorified be He, does not punish anyone for what He has permitted; rather, He punishes for neglecting a command or committing a forbidden act. These comprehensive principles clarify the matters mentioned above and others besides.

As for silk, it is forbidden for men except in certain specified cases. Whoever wears what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden is sinful. As for linen, cotton, and similar fabrics, whoever forgoes them despite needing them is ignorant and misguided, while whoever is extravagant in their use is blameworthy. Whoever adorns himself by wearing them to display Allah’s blessings upon him is praiseworthy for doing so.