( يَا بَنِي آدَمَ) (O children of Adam): By addressing the children of Adam, as if Allah (swt) wants to provoke us to remember our forefather’s disobedience and his repentance.   

(قَدْ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ لِبَاسًا يُوَارِي سَوْآتِكُمْ) (We have bestowed upon you clothing to conceal your private parts): Allah (swt) did not originally sent down clothes, He (swt) rather sent rain which makes plants grow, and from these plants people can weave clothes to cover their private parts with. Previous verses stated that when Adam and Eve ate from the tree, their private parts were made apparent to them. Here, Allah (swt) addresses the children of Adam, meaning all of mankind.

( وَرِيشًا ) (and as adornment): The Arabic word means (feathers) and they used to decorate crowns with, making it a sign of luxury. So, it is for luxurious people who use adornment as a surplus to the clothes used for covering private parts.

( وَلِبَاسُ التَّقْوَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ) (But the clothing of righteousness – that is best): There is an interesting comparison between material, physical clothing, and clothing of morals. The clothing of piety is that of morals, it covers the shortcomings any person may have in terms of morality. Indecency is not only physical, but also liars, bribers, thieves, adulterers, sinners, or disobedient people need a cover to hide their indecent morals. The best option to cover that shortcoming with is righteousness, and this type of clothing is a lot better than the material, normal clothing that covers the body because it gives a person the true values that Allah (swt) wants from us. The Divine path is one of values, and this is why the Prophet (saws) said:

“I was sent to perfect good character.”[1]

The Holy Quran constantly demands people to do what is better:

  ادْفَعْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ السَّيِّئَةَ ۚ نَحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَصِفُونَ (96) وَقُل رَّبِّ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيَاطِينِ (97) وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ رَبِّ أَن يَحْضُرُونِ (98)

((96) Repel, by [means of] what is best, [their] evil. We are most knowing of what they describe (97) And say, “My Lord, I seek refuge in You from the incitements of the devils (98) And I seek refuge in You, my Lord, lest they be present with me.”)

(Al-Muminoon)

  Because Satan is the enemy who whispers into people’s ears.

( ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ ) (That is from the signs of Allah that perhaps they will remember): This is one of Allah’s (swt) miracles. These miracles and verses of the Quran, or Divine Messages, are to remind people, this is why Allah (swt) says: (perhaps they will remember). Faith is built in our natural disposition. The Prophet (saws) said:

“No child is born but has the Islamic Faith”

By looking into the life of the very first humans, Adam and Eve, when they were in the Paradise of preparation and how Allah (swt) was addressing them. Although when they were descended, they had known that there is a God (swt) and the He (swt) is the Creator. But after that, mankind became forgetful and Messengers were sent a short while later to remind them of the original faith of their mother and father, Adam and Eve.

[1] Sunan Al-Buheiqi Al-Kubra, the Book of Testimonies, no. 20571.