Al-Shâfi’î saw me sitting in his circle, and there was some ink on my shirt I was trying to hide. He said, “Young man, why are you hiding it? Having ink on ones clothes is a sign of lofty conduct: to the sight it is black, but to the insight it is white (with the light of knowledge).”

It is reported that ‘Abdullâh b. Al-Mubârak – Allâh have mercy on him – said:

Ink on the clothes is the perfume of the scholars.

- Some put this in verse (from Arabic):

The ink-pot’s ink is the perfume of men
As saffron is the perfume of women
So the former befits the garments of those men
As the latter the garments of wives

It is reported that Imâm Ahmad said, seeing the students of hadîth approaching with their ink-pots:

These are the lanterns of Islâm.

Al-Khatîb Al-Baghdâdî, Al-Jâmi’ li-Akhlâq Al-Râwî, articles 508, 509, 512 .

More:

1. The Recommendation for Men to Smell Pleasant [wearing perfume]
2. The hard life now for the good life later
3. The Companions’ Sincerity in Knowledge
4. Actions speak louder
5. Hot Fashion

This is from Sayings of the Salaf - English translations of narrations from the Salaf - the earliest believers, our righteous predecessors, and true scholars of Islam. Selected and translated by Owais Al-Hashimi

It is reported that ‘Abdullâh [Ibn Mas'ûd] used to use perfume that had musk in it.

It is reported that ‘Uthmân b. ‘Ubaydillâh – the freedman of Sa’d b. Abî Waqqâs – said:

I used to see Ibn ‘Umar, Abû Hurayrah, Abû Qatâdah and Abû Usayd Al-Sâ’idî – Allâh be pleased with them – passing by us when we were still in school, and we could smell the scent of amber from them.

It is reported that ‘Abdullâh [Ibn Mas'ûd] could be recognized by the smell of his perfume as he approached.

It is reported from Nufay’ the freedman of ‘Abdullâh [Ibn Mas'ûd] that he said:

‘Abdullâh was one of the most pleasant scented people and wore the cleanest whitest thowb (garment).

It is reported that ‘Abdullâh b. Ja’far – Allâh have mercy on him – used to crush musk and apply it in his hair.

It is reported that Umm Razîn said:

I used to gift perfume to Ibn ‘Abbâs – Allâh be pleased with him. He said: “There is nothing the Quraysh like more.” She added, “And he would give us Al-Wars (a plant whose leaves are used to dye fabric).”

Ibn Abî Shaybah, Kitâb Al-Adab, articles 92 – 99.

More:

1. A Visitor looking around the House
2. Going out to Spread Greetings
3. Did the Companions used to laugh?
4. The scholar, the ruler, and your brother
5. Some of the Best and Worst People in Society

This is from Sayings of the Salaf - English translations of narrations from the Salaf - the earliest believers, our righteous predecessors, and true scholars of Islam. Selected and translated by Owais Al-Hashimi

Allâh has increased the provisions; if only you would eat better food than the food you eat now and wear softer clothes then those you wear now?! He said, “I will argue [against] you with your own self: Was not the condition of Allâh’s Messenger – praise and peace be upon him – such-and-such [when you were his wife]!?” He kept reminding her until she cried. He continued, “I have told you, by Allâh, I will share in their hard living (in this world, referring to The Prophet and Abû Bakr) so that I may partake in their good life (in Paradise).”

Hunâd b. Al-Sarî, Al-Zuhd article 687; Imâm Ahmad, Al-Zuhd article 201, et al. ⁽¹⁾

^{(1) Shaykh Abd Al-Rahmân Al-Farîwâ`î explains in his edition of Hunâd’s Al-Zuhd that this narration is sahîh if it is confirmed that Mus‘ab b. Sa’d heard it from Hafsah; otherwise its chain of transmission is mursal sahîh (i.e. it is authentic except there is a missing link between Mus’ab and Hafsah)}

More:

1. Eating to Fast [not Fasting to Eat]
2. The Hunger of the Salaf and its Merits
3. How much should I..?
4. Women and Food [Man Talk]
5. A Comfortable Life

This is from Sayings of the Salaf - English translations of narrations from the Salaf - the earliest believers, our righteous predecessors, and true scholars of Islam. Selected and translated by Owais Al-Hashimi

Whoever wears silk; Allâh will make him wear fire for a day – not one of your days, but one of Allâh’s long days.

Reported by Al-Bazzâr. Graded sahîh by Shaykh Al-Albânî in Sahîh Al-Targhîbi wa Al-Tarhîb Vol. 2 p225.

More:

1. Better to be Dust
2. A Penny worth Thirty-Three
3. The Braying Drunkard
4. Worse than the End of the World
5. The trials of a Believer and the Trials of a Sinner

This is from Sayings of the Salaf - English translations of narrations from the Salaf - the earliest believers, our righteous predecessors, and true scholars of Islam. Selected and translated by Owais Al-Hashimi