"Simplicity is part of Faith":
Abu Umamah bin Tha'labah radi Allahu anhu reported: The Companions of Messenger of Allah sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam mentioned the life of the world before him. He sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam said,
“Do you not hear? Do you not hear?
Simplicity (in life) is part of Faith, simplicity is part of Faith.”
Imams Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah (rahimahumallah) have recorded this narration. Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) has graded the Hadith authentic (sahih).
(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 4158, Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith: 4161. Refer: Fathul Bari, Hadith: 5926)
Explanation:
The Arabic word used in this Hadith is ‘البذاذة’ which refers to simplicity and humility in one’s dressing and food.
(Refer: footnotes of Shaykh Muhammad ‘Awwamah on Sunan Abi Dawud and Fathul Bari) from http://hadithanswers.com/simplicity-is-part-of-iman/
: قال المنذريّ رحمه الله:" ( البذاذة )_ بفتح الباء الموحّدة وذالين معجمتين _ هي: التّواضع في اللّباس برثاثة الهيئة، وترك الزّينة، والرّضا بالدّون من الثّياب "اهـ.
وقال الخطابي رحمه الله: " البذاذة: سوء الهيئة والتجوّز في الثّياب ونحوها، يقال: رجل باذ الهيئة إذا كان رثّ الهيئة واللّباس".
والمقصود من الحديث ما ذكره ابن الأثير رحمه الله في " النّهاية " فقال:" أراد التواضع في اللّباس وترك الافتخار به " اهـ.
Humility in dress by having a dowdy (or simple) appearance, avoiding decoration and being content with inferior kinds of clothes.
Overall purpose from what is intended from the hadīth is to have humility in one's dress and to avoid haughtiness.
Fashion vs Simplicity:
Another aspect of simple life style is to not get caught up in the fashion craze prevalent today.
The famous Sahabi ‘Amr Ibnul 'Aas, رضى الله عنه said,
«لا أملُّ ثوبي ما وسعني، ولا أملُّ زوجتي ما أحسنت عشرتي، ولا أملُّ دابَّتي ما حَمَلَتْني ؛ إنَّ الملال من سيِّىء الأخلاق».
“I will not get fed up with my clothes so long as they continue to fit me, and I will not get fed up with my wife so long as she is good to me, and I will not get fed up with my ride so long as it continues to carry me. A person who continually becomes bored with things has a deficiency in his character.”
[From the book "Taareekh Dimashq"]
