The learned and erudite shaykh and imam, the imam of his time, peerless in his age, the jewel of knowledge, the essence of faith, the pillar of his age, mufti to the various groups, Shaykh al-Islām Taqī al-Dīn Abū al-‘Abbās Ahmad, son of the shaykh and imam Shihāb al-Dīn ‘Abd al-Halīm, son of the shaykh, imam and eminent scholar, champion of the Sunnah, Majd al-Dīn ‘Abd al-Salām ibn Taymiyyah al-Harrānī—may Allah be pleased with him and benefit others through him, amen—was asked:

About a group who gather together, clothe one of their members in the garb of “chivalry,” and pass around at their gathering a drink containing salt and water, which they drink. They claim that this is part of religion, and at their gathering they utter statements incompatible with reason and religion. Among these is their claim that the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—clothed ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib—may Allah be pleased with him—in the garb of chivalry, then instructed him to clothe whomever he wished in it. They also say that this garb was sent down to the Prophet—may Allah Most High bless him and grant him peace—in a chest, citing as evidence the words of Allah Most High:

“O children of Adam, We have sent down to you clothing to cover your nakedness”—to the end of the verse.

Is it as they claim, or