Sufiyan Thauri happened to pass by Masjid al-Haram and there he witnessed Imam Sadiq (a.s) wearing costly and expensive clothes. He said to himself: “By Allah! I shall go to him and reprimand him.”
Approaching the Imam (a.s), he said: “O’ Son of the Prophet of Allah! By Allah! You have attired yourself in a clothing, the like of which had neither been worn by the Noble Prophet (s.a.w) nor by ‘Ali (a.s) or any of your fore-fathers!”
Hearing this, the Imam (a.s) said: “During the era of the Noble Prophet (s.a.w), the people were troubled with poverty and paucity, but later the circumstances improved and things changed for the better. (Do know!) Of the inhabitants of the world those, who most deserve to taste the benefits of Abundance, ease and comfort, are the righteous ones.”
Having said this he (a.s) recited the following verse, “Say: Who has prohibited the embellishment of Allah which He has brought forth for His servants and the good provisions?”7
And then said: “Thus, we are the ones, who most deserve to utilize that which Allah has provided. O’ Sufiyan! The apparel that you presently observe me wearing is for the people and for preserving my reputation and esteem.”
Then, taking hold of Sufiyan’s hand, the Imam drew back his dress, revealing his inner clothing which was coarse and rough. He then said: ‘This, I have worn for myself while the other I have worn for the people.’
Then, taking hold of Sufiyan’s clothing, he (a.s) pulled it up to reveal a soft inner clothing and said: ‘You have worn this (simple) exterior clothing for the people and the concealed soft inner clothing for your ease and comfort!’( Ba Mardum In Guneh Barkhord Konim, pg. 169; Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 47, pg. 360 )