“Am I carrying brands, or are the brands carrying me?”

 

A deep question every soul should reflect upon in an age where outer appearances often outshine inner realities. The things we wear, the gadgets we hold, the cars we drive—are they tools to serve us, or have we become servants to them?

Let’s be clear: brands are utilities—means to an end, not the end itself. They are tools of convenience, not measures of character. A true man or woman of value brings honour to what they carry, not the other way around. The greatest of personalities in human history walked with unmatched dignity without ever needing a luxury label to validate their worth.

Today, society has fallen into a trap where people are judged by the shoes they wear more than the steps they take. A person in plain, simple attire might carry mountains of wisdom, faith, and sincerity. Meanwhile, someone decked in gold and glitter may carry nothing but arrogance, emptiness, and the weight of worldly illusion.

But here's the painful truth: we’ve started confusing price tags with value, and fashion statements with moral standing.

Islam teaches the exact opposite.

Our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the best of all creation, lived with simplicity, wore humble clothing, mended his own shoes, and sat on the floor with the poor. Did it reduce his greatness? Never. In fact, his simplicity increased his dignity and influence. And his legacy was preserved by his noble companions—the rightly guided Caliphs—who ruled vast empires while living in homes that could barely be called palaces.

Sayyidina Umar (RA), the commander of the faithful, entered Jerusalem wearing patched clothes and riding a camel. Yet, the entire world stood in awe of his justice and leadership. Why? Because greatness lies in character, not in clothing.

🌱 Let’s challenge the brand-based mentality:

• Judge people by their manners, not their money.
• Respect people for their truthfulness, not their trends.
• Admire those who earn halal, live simple, and give more than they take.

Your branded belt may cost more than a poor man's entire wardrobe—but his dua in the night and sweat in the day might weigh more on Allah’s scale than all your labels combined.

So the question is not what brand you wear…

But what kind of person are you when the brand is removed?

Let’s realign our values. Let’s remember that in the grave, no logo will shine—only your light will.