The beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم sent Sayyidunā ꜤUthmān رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ as an envoy to Makkah Mukarramah. When he reached Makkah Mukarramah, the first person he met was his cousin, Abān b. SaꜤīd, who was not a Muslim.

Sayyidunā ꜤUthmān رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ  was a practitioner of the Sunnah, hence he had his blessed lower garment above his ankles in accordance with the Sunnah. However, the disbelievers considered this bad. The disbelievers used to keep their lower garments below their ankles as a sign of arrogance and pride.

When Sayyidunā ꜤUthmān’s رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ cousin, Abān b. SaꜤīd, saw his lower garment above his ankles, he taunted him, saying: "What is the matter, I see you in a weak state, is your garment above your ankles?"

The implication was: "O ꜤUthmān! You were a rich man, you had a certain reputation, what is this state that you have placed yourself in? You have come as an envoy, you should have dressed up properly, but your condition looks very weak, your lower garment is above your ankles".

Upon this, Sayyidunā ꜤUthmān رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ  gave a very beautiful reply; listen carefully to what he said!

He رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ replied: "The blessed lower garment of our beloved Prophet           صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is like this (i.e., above the ankles)."^[1]

Meaning, he did not care what the people of Makkah would say about him or what impression he would make on them. His role model, his beloved, was the Merciful Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, and he considered it an honour to adopt his ways.^[2]

سُـبْحٰـنَ الـلّٰــه ! O devotees of the Messenger! How beautiful is this!

The Sunnah of Mustafa صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is our standard. Allah Almighty said:

لَقَدْ کَانَ لَکُمْ  فِیْ رَسُوْلِ اللّٰہِ  اُسْوَۃٌ حَسَنَۃٌ