QUESTION:
What do the scholars of the Dīn and muftīs of the Sacred Law state regarding the following issue: Is it a big sin if someone leaves their clothes, trousers, etc hanging below one’s ankles in salāh. Is there a Hadīth regarding this?
Questioner: Miya from Abbottabad, Pakistan
ANSWER:
بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم
الجواب بعون الملک الوھاب اللھم ھدایۃ الحق والصواب
Men should keep their trousers & lower garments above their ankles, as leaving one’s trousers, etc hanging to such an extent that the ankles are no longer visible, without the intention of arrogance, is Makrūh Tanzīhī [slightly disliked]. However, if one leaves them this low with, the intention of arrogance, such that the ankles no longer remain visible, then this is impermissible and harām [unlawful], and there has been much admonition regarding this mentioned in Hadīth.
Just as it is stated in Sahīh al-Bukhārī, whereby Sayyidunā Abū Hurayrah, may Allāh Almighty be pleased with him, narrates that the Noble Prophet ﷺ stated that,
“مَا أَسْفَلَ مِنَ الكَعْبَيْنِ مِنَ الإِزَارِ فَفِي النَّارِ”
“The part of a shawl which hangs below the ankles is in the Fire.”
[Sahīh al-Bukhārī, Hadīth no 5787]
In addition, it is narrated by Sayyidunā Abū Hurayrah, may Allāh Almighty be pleased with him, in both[1] Sahīh al-Bukhārī and Muslim, that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ stated that,
“لاَ يَنْظُرُ اللَّهُ يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ إِلَى مَنْ جَرَّ إِزَارَهُ بَطَرًا”
“On the Day of Judgement, Allāh Almighty will not look with Mercy at the person who trails his lower garment in arrogance.”
[Sahīh al-Bukhārī, Hadīth no 5788]
[Sahīh Muslim, Hadīth no 2085]
There is a narration of Sahīh al Bukhārī from Sayyidunā ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar, may Allāh Almighty be pleased with him, stating that,
“A man was dragging his lower garment on the ground (behind him), suddenly Allāh Almighty made him sink into the earth – and he will continue sinking into it till the Day of Resurrection.”
If one’s trousers are covering the ankles without the intention of arrogance, then this is Makrūh Tanzīhī, just as it is stated in Fatāwā Hindiyyah,
“إسْبَالُ الرَّجُلِ إزَارَهُ أَسْفَلَ مِنْ الْكَعْبَيْنِ إنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لِلْخُيَلَاءِ فَفِيهِ كَرَاهَةُ تَنْزِيهٍ، كَذَا فِي الْغَرَائِبِ”
[al-Fatāwā al-Hindiyyah, vol 5, ch 9, pg 333]
Sayyidī Āla Hadrat Imām Ahmad Ridā Khān, may Allāh Almighty shower endless mercies upon him, states in Fatāwā Ridawiyyah that the trousers also being below the ankles is Makrūh Tanzīhī, meaning khilāf awlā [merely a less better option], when it is not with intention of arrogance.
[Fatāwā Ridawiyyah, vol 23, pg 98]
On a final note, it is stated in Bahār-e-Sharī’at that for males to wear such trousers that the rear portion of the trouser leg falls on the back of the foot is Makrūh. To do Isbāl i.e. to wear a kurta [shirt], jubbah, trouser or waist-cloth [lower garment] so low that the ankles are (completely) hidden is disallowed. These garments should be worn from between half the shin up to the ankle i.e. the ankles should not be completely hidden.
[Bahār-e-Sharī’at, vol 3, part 16, pg 417]
[1] This Hadīth is also mentioned in the four other books from the Sihāh Sittah as well as Muwatta’ Imām Mālik.
واللہ تعالی اعلم ورسولہ اعلم صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم
کتبہ ابو الحسن محمد قاسم ضیاء قادری
Answered by Mufti Qasim Zia al-Qadri
Translated by Haider Ali
Read the original Urdu answer here: [Q-ID0664] What is the ruling on having trousers kept below the ankles during Salah?
Also see:
[Q-ID0662] What is the ruling of praying Salah with the sleeves folded?
