The Prophet ﷺ once said:
“Verily, Allah is Graceful and He loves Grace. Pride is disdaining the truth (out of self-conceit) and contempt for the people.”
A companion asked whether it was pride to want one’s clothes and shoes to look good. The Prophet ﷺ did not condemn the desire for good appearance. He told them that Allah Himself is beautiful and loves beauty. Neatness, cleanliness and dignity in how we present ourselves are not the sin this hadith warns against.
The sin is defined by what happens inside the heart: refusing a truth because we consider ourselves above it, and looking down on people as though they are lesser than we are. A person can wear the finest clothes and be humble, or wear simple clothes and be full of contempt. The Prophet ﷺ placed the danger in the attitude, not the appearance.
