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Dragging the clothes below the ankles

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Question: Why do men have to keep their trousers above their ankles? Do the Quran and hadeeth say anything regarding this? Is Salah Makrooh if the trousers are not above the ankles?

Answer: Men must keep their clothes above their ankles. It is a Sunnah of our Prophet (saw) that his garments would be below halfway of his shins and above his ankles.

There are numerous Ahadeeth in regards to the warning and the admonition for those who leave their trousers/ lower garments below their ankles such as the following:

​حدثنا آدم: حدثنا شُعبة: حدثنا سعيد بن أبي سعيد المقبري، عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه، عن النبي قال: (ما أسفل من الكعبين من الإزار ففي النار).
) صحيح البخاري- كتاب اللباس.-باب: ما أسفل من الكعبين فهو في النار.(
(سنن النسائي- كتاب الزينة- إسبال الإزار وذكر اختلاف ألفاظ الناقلين لخبر أشعث بن أبي الشعثاء في ذلك)

1) Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (Radhiallahu Anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, “That part of an Izar which hangs below the ankles will be in the Fire”.
(Sahih Al Bukhari, Sunan An Nasai )

​عن أبي ذر، عن النبي قال” ثلاثة لا يكلمهم الله يوم القيامة، ولا ينظر إليهم، ولا يزكيهم، ولهم عذاب أليم” قال فقرأها رسول الله ثلاث مرار. قال أبو ذر: خابوا وخسروا. من هم يا رسول الله؟ قال” المسبل والمنان والمنفق سلعته بالحلف الكاذب”.

(صحيح مسلم- كتاب الإيمان- باب بيان غلظ تحريم إسبال الإزار والمن بالعطية وتنفيق السلعة بالحلف. وبيان الثلاثة الذين لا يكلمهم الله يوم القيامة ولا ينظر إليهم ولا يزكيهم ولهم عذاب أليم)
) جامع الترمذي -كتاب البيوع عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم -باب ما جاء فيمن حلف على سلعة كاذبا)
(سنن إبن ماجه كتاب التجارات- باب ماجاء في كراهية الأيمان في الشراء والبيع)
(سنن أبو داود- كتاب اللباس- باب ما جاء في إسبال الإزار)
(سنن النسائي: كتاب الزكاة -المنان بما أعطى ,كتاب البيوع-المنفق سلعته بالحلف الكاذب,
كتاب الزينة-إسبال الإزار وذكر اختلاف ألفاظ الناقلين لخبر أشعث بن أبي الشعثاء في ذلك,
كتاب التفسير-قوله تعالى إن الذين يشترون بعهد الله وأيمانهم ثمنا قليلا آل عمران)

2) Hadhrat Abu Zar (Radhiallahu Anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: “There are three to whom Allah will not speak on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He look at them, nor sanctify them, and theirs will be a painful torment.”

Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) repeated this three times. Sayyiduna Abu Zar (Radhiallahu Anhu) asked, “May they be lost and doomed; who are they,
O Messenger of Allah?”

He replied “The one who lets his Izar (lower garment) hang below his ankles, the one who reminds others (of his favours), and the one who sells products by means of false oath.”
(Sahih Muslim, Jami ut Tirmidhi, Sunan Ibn Majah, Sunan Abu Dawud, Sunan an Nasai)


عن المغيرة بن شعبة؛ قال: قال رسول الله : (ياسفيان ابن سهل! لا تسبل. فإن الله لايحب المسبلين). في الزوائد: إسناده صحيح. رجاله ثقات.
(سنن إبن ماجه ,كتاب اللباس -باب موضع الإزار أين هو؟)
3)Hadhrat Mughirah bin Shu’bah (Radhiallahu Anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: “O Sufyan bin Sahl, do not let your garment hang (below the ankles), Allah does not like those who let loose their garments”.
(Sunan Ibn Majah, Musnad Imam Ahmad, Sahih ibn Hibban)

​حدثنا علي بن محمد. حدثنا سفيان بن عيينة، عن العلاء بن عبد الرحمن، عن أبيه؛ قال: قلت لأبي سعيد: هل سمعت من رسول الله شيئا في الإزار؟ قال: نعم. سمعت رسول الله يقول: (إزرة المؤمن إلى أنصاف ساقيه. لاجناح عليه ما بينه وبين الكعبين. وما أسفل من الكعبين في النار) يقول ثلاثا (لا ينظر الله إلى من جر إزاره بطرا).
(سنن إبن ماجه ,كتاب اللباس,باب موضع الإزار أين هو؟(
(سنن أبو داود- كتاب اللباس- باب في قدر موضع الإزار(

4) Hadhrat Al-‘Ala bin ‘Abdur Rahman (Radhiallahu Anhu) narrates that his father said: “I asked Abu Saeed Al- Khudhri (Radhiallahu Anhu) have you heard anything from Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) in regards to the Izar (lower garment)?
He replied, I heard Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) saying, “The Izar of a Mu’min is upto the middle of his shin, and there is no sin if it comes between that and the ankle, but whatever is below the ankle is in the Fire.” The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) repeated this three times. “Allah will not look at the one who drags his Izar due to arrogance.”
(Sunan Abu Dawud, Sunan Ibn Majah, Muatta Imam Malik, Musnad Imam Ahmad, Sahih Ibn Hibban)

عن أبي هريرة قال بينما رجل يصلي مسبلا إزاره إذ قال له رسول الله اذهب فتوضأ فذهب فتوضأ ثم جاء ثم قال اذهب فتوضأ فذهب فتوضأ ثم جاء فقال له رجل يا رسول الله ما لك أمرته أن يتوضأ فقال إنه كان يصلي وهو مسبل إزاره وإن الله تعالى لا يقبل صلاة رجل مسبل إزاره .
(سنن أبو داود- كتاب الصلاة,باب الإسبال في الصلاة, كتاب اللباس,باب ما جاء في إسبال الإزار)
(سنن النسائي: كتاب الزينة,إسبال الإزار وذكر اختلاف ألفاظ الناقلين لخبر أشعث بن أبي الشعثاء في ذلك)

5) Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (Radhiallahu Anhu) narrates that, “Whilst a man was praying with his Izar hanging below his ankles, Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said to him: Go and perform Wudhu. He went and performed Wudhu, then he came and Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said to him: Go and perform Wudhu. He went and performed Wudhu. A man said ,”O Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam), why did you order him to perform Wudhu?” He replied ‘He was praying with his Izar hanging below his ankles, and Allah, the Most High does not accept the prayer of one whose Izar hangs below his ankles.
(Sunan Abu Dawud, Sunan An Nasai, Sunan Al Baiyhaqi, Musnad Imam Ahmad)

عن أبي جعفر أن عطاء بن يسار حدثهم قال حدثني رجل من أصحاب النبي قال قال رسول الله إنه لا تقبل صلاة رجل مسبل إزاره
(سنن النسائي: كتاب الزينة-إسبال الإزار وذكر اختلاف ألفاظ الناقلين لخبر أشعث بن أبي الشعثاء في ذلك(
.

6) Abu Ja’far relates that ‘Ata ibn Yasaar narrates that one of the companions of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) narrated to me, he states that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, “The Salah will not be accepted of the man who hangs his Izar (below his ankles)
Sunan an Nasai

Imam Bukhari (RA) relates in a lengthy hadeeth, a detailed incident of the Martyrdom of Ameer ul Mumineen Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallahu Anhu), and portrays a scene of his last moments;
8 – باب قصة البيعة والاتفاق على عثمان بن عفان رضي الله عنه
(ذكر في حديث طويل)
وجاء رجل شاب، فقال: أبشر يا أمير المؤمنين ببشرى الله لك، من صحبة رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، وقدم في الإسلام ما قد علمت، ثم وليت فعدلت، ثم شهادة، قال: وددت أن ذلك كفاف لا علي ولا لي، فلما أدبر إذا إزاره يمس الأرض، قال: ردوا علي الغلام، قال: يا ابن أخي ارفع ثوبك، فإنه أنقى لثوبك، وأتقى لربك
[ صحيح البخاري ]

‘A young man came saying, “Glad tidings, O Ameer ul Mumineen! Receive the glad tidings from Allah to you, due to your companionship with Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) and your precedence in Islam which you know. Then you became the Khalifa and you ruled with justice and finally you have been martyred.” `Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallahu Anhu) said, “I wish that all these privileges will counterbalance (my shortcomings) so that I will neither lose nor gain anything.” When the young man turned to leave, his Izar was touching the ground. Hadhrat `Umar (Radhiyallahu Anhu) said, “Call the young man back to me.” (When he came back) `Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallahu Anhu) said, “O my dear nephew! Lift your clothes, for this will keep your clothes clean and bring you more taqwa of your Rabb.”
(Sahih Al Bukhari- The Virtues and the Merits of the Companions of Prophet(PBUH),
Chapter- The story of the Bai`a (pledge) (after Hadhrat `Umar (Radhiyallahu Anhu)) and the unanimous election of Hadhrat ‘Uthmân bin `Affân (Radhiyallahu Anhu) as Khalifa. – Hadeeth 3497)

This was an advice given by Ameer ul Mumineen Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallahu Anhu) upon his final moments.

It is Makrooh for a person to pray Salah with the garments below the ankles as stated below:

وَيُكْرَهُ لِلرِّجَالِ السَّرَاوِيلُ الَّتِي تَقَعُ عَلَى ظَهْرِ الْقَدَمِ

Shami ( Page 351, Volume 6)

تَقْصِيرُ الثِّيَابِ سُنَّةٌ وَإِسْبَالُ الْإِزَارِ وَالْقَمِيصِ بِدْعَةٌ يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يَكُونَ الْإِزَارُ فَوْقَ الْكَعْبَيْنِ إلَى نِصْفِ السَّاقِ وَهَذَا فِي حَقِّ الرِّجَالِ ، وَأَمَّا النِّسَاءُ فَيُرْخِينَ إزَارَهُنَّ أَسْفَلَ مِنْ إزَارِ الرِّجَالِ لِيَسْتُرَ ظَهْرَ قَدَمِهِنَّ .
إسْبَالُ الرَّجُلِ إزَارَهُ أَسْفَلَ مِنْ الْكَعْبَيْنِ إنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لِلْخُيَلَاءِ فَفِيهِ كَرَاهَةُ تَنْزِيهٍ ، كَذَا فِي الْغَرَائِبِ .
Fatawa Hindiyyah (Page 183 -Bab 9 fil lubs ma yukrahu fi zaalik)

In Fatawa Rahimiyyah of Mufti Abdur Raheem Lajpuri (RA) ,it states under a similar question,
“It is Makrooh to perform Salah with the garments hanging below the ankles and such Salah is not accepted”.
He further states, “It is the requirement of the Shari’ah for men to wear their garments above their ankles, although it is best for the garment to reach halfway up the calves. It is a serious sin to have the garments hanging below the ankles. ”
Then Mufti Sahib has recorded some Ahadeeth pertaining to this , after which he writes,
“The seriousness of the crime can be gauged from the above Ahadeeth. It is so grave that no true Mu’min will dare to contradict this injunction. This act is usually due to pride and to imitate the non-Muslims. A person should be conscious of this at all times and the excuse will not be acceptable that it is not done out of pride, but happens by accident.

The book Addul Aathaam states that it is totally Haraam for men to wear their trousers or lower loincloths beneath the ankles because Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) explicitly mentioned that whatever portion of the lower garment hangs beneath the ankles will be in the fire of Jahannam. As for the condition of pride mentioned in some Ahadeeth, it must be noted that the condition is not a prerequisite for the prohibition but rather a cursory clause. This is established from the statements of the Muhadditheen.

Had it not been for the element of pride in a person, he would feel no difficulty in wearing the garment above the ankles and he will not look down and scoff at people who do wear it above the ankles. In fact, scoffing at the practice makes one a Kaafir.

It is therefore necessary for Muslim men to wear their garments above their ankles at all times and not only in Salah. The sin is however substantially greater when committed in Salah.

Fatawa Darul Uloom (Vol.4 Pg. 127) states that it is Makrooh to wear the trousers below the ankles and the act deprives one of the rewards of Salah. It is also necessary to wear the garments above the ankles out of Salah because the Ahadeeth have sound warnings against this.
And Allah knows best what is most correct.
(Fatawa Rahimiyyah -Fatawa of Salah, The Chapter Of Salah, Page 458-461, Volume 2 -English version, Question 592).

It is stated in Ahsan ul Fatawa :-
مرد کے لۓ نماز اور غیر نماز دونوں حالتوں میں ٹخنے ڈھانکنا ناجائز اور گناہ ہے ، حدیث میں اس پر جھنم کی وعید آئی ہے، نماز کے اندر گناہ کا ارتکاب اور بھی زیادہ بڑا ہے، نماز میں ٹخنے ڈھانکنے سے اگرچہ نماز ہو جا‎ۓ گی، مگر متکبّرین کا شعار ہونے کی وجہ سے مکروہ ہے اور واجب الاعادہ ہے قال الطحطاوي رحمه الله تعلي في المكروهات وكذا ما هو من عادة اهل التكبر (الطحطاوی علی المراقی ص189)
حضور اکرم (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) نے ٹخنے ڈھانکنے ، ڈاڑی کاتنے اور گانے بجانے کو ان بد اعمالیوں کی فہرست میں شمار فرمایا ہے جن کی وجہ سے قوم لوط (علیہ السلام) پر عذاب آیا ہے (در منثور) فقط واللہ تعالی اعلم

“The covering of the ankles for males, both whilst praying Salah or otherwise, is impermissible and a sin. The Hadeeth has mentioned the punishment of Jahannam due to this. To commit a sin whilst performing Salah is much worse. If the ankles are covered, although the Salah is valid- however as it is the sign of the Mutakabireen (proud people)thus it is Makrooh and it is Wajib to repeat the Salah.

Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) included; the covering of the ankles, the cutting of the beard and the playing of music amongst those bad actions due to which the people of Lut (‘Alayhi Salaam) were punished.(Dur e Mansoor)
Allah knows best
(Ahsan ul Fatawa, Page 404, Volume 3)

It is mentioned in Fatawa Mahmoodiyah (Page 271- 272- Volume 9- Chapter of Clothing)

پائجامہ یا لنگی ٹخنوں سے نیچے رکھنے کی ممانعت کی وجہ
الجواب :حدیث شریف میں آیا ہے کہ “جو شخص (پائجامہ یا لنگی) ٹخنے ڈھانکے گا تو یہ حصہ دوزخ میں جلے گا” (2) اس لۓ مکروہ تحریمی ہے (3)، اس طرح نماز بھی مکروہ تحریمی ہوتی ہے (4)
فقط واللہ اعلم بالصواب- حررہ العبد محمود، دار العلوم دیوبند
(2) عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ، رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ : مَا أَسْفَلَ مِنَ الْكَعْبَيْنِ مِنَ الإِزَارِ فَفِي النَّارِ.(صحيح البخاري)
(3) فَمَا نَزَلَ عَنْ الْكَعْبَيْنِ فَهُوَ مَمْنُوع . فَإِنْ كَانَ لِلْخُيَلَاءِ فَهُوَ مَمْنُوع مَنْع تَحْرِيم ، وَإِلَّا فَمَنْع تَنْزِيه . وَأَمَّا الْأَحَادِيث الْمُطْلَقَة بِأَنَّ مَا تَحْت الْكَعْبَيْنِ فِي النَّار فَالْمُرَاد بِهَا مَا كَانَ لِلْخُيَلَاءِ) شرح صحيح مسلم للنووي(
(4) ويكره كل ما كان من أخلاق الجبابرة اه) حاشية على مراقي الفلاح شرح نور الإيضاح(

‘The reason for the impermissibility of keeping the trousers or izaar beneath the ankles.
Answer: It has been mentioned in the Hadeeth, ” Whosoever covers their ankles, that part will burn in Jahannam”, this is why it is Makrooh e Tahrimi. Performing Salah in this manner shall also be Makrooh e Tahrimi.
Allah knows best.’

It further states in Fatawa Mahmoodiyah:
یہ لباس متکبّرین اور فساق کا ہے، اگر اس نیت سے ہو کہ ان کے ساتھ تشبہ اختیار کیا جاوے یا تکبّر کی نیت سے ہو تو حرآم، ورنہ مکروہ ہے؛
‘This is the clothing of the proud people and open sinners, if a person does this (hangs their clothing below the ankles) with the intention of imitating such people or does this out of pride then it is Haram, otherwise it is Makrooh.’

It is stated in Imdaad ul Fatawa (pg. 122, vol. 4):
‘مطلق جر کو بھی حرآم کہیں گے اور جر للخیلاء کو بھی، البتہ دونوں حرمتوں میں اگر کسی قدر تفاوت مانا جاۓ تو گنجائش ہے کیوںکہ ایک جگہ ایک منہی عنہ کا ارتکاب ہے، یعنی جر کا اور دوسری جگہ دو منہی عنہ کا ارتکاب ہے یعنی جر کا اور خیلاء کا’
‘ Keeping the garment below the ankles in general is Haram, and to do so out of pride is also Haram. However, if one wanted to distinguish between the two then it would be possible to do so, as in one there is only one forbidden act being carried out i.e. keeping the clothing below the ankles, and in the second, two forbidden acts are being carried out i.e. keeping the clothing below the ankles and pride.’

It is stated in Fatawa Darul Uloom Deoband (page 108, Volume 4),
“نماز میں ٹخنوں سے نیچے پائجامہ لٹکا کر نماز پڑھنا مکروہ ہے، ثواب سے محروم رہے گا- نماز کے علاوہ بھی ٹخنوں سے اوپر رکھنا ضروری ہے۔ حدیث شریف میں ایسے شخص کے لۓ بہت وعید آ‏ئی ہے۔ فقط”
‘To perform Salah whilst one’s trousers are hanging below the ankles is Makrooh, and shall be deprived of the reward (of Salah). One must also keep their trousers above their ankles whilst outside Salah. For such a person (who lets his clothing go below his ankle) there are many warnings mentioned in the Ahadeeth’

Many people say that it is only impermissible to let one’s lower garment hang out of pride.
However there are numerous Ahadeeth for the admonition of lowering the garment below the ankles without the mention of ‘Pride’. Thus it is impermissible whether there is pride or not.
As for the Ahadeeth that do mention the condition of ‘Pride’, according to the Hanafi research, this is an condition which is Qaid e Waqi’ee.
قوله : ( مسبل الإزار إلخ ) …… وأما الأحناف فيذكرون المسألة بلا قيد وزعموا القيد واقعياً ، فإذن لا يتبدل الحكم وإن اختاره الصلحة .
(العرف الشذي شرح سنن الترمذي لمولانا محمد أنور شاه ابن معظم شاه الكشميري الهندي
تحت الحديث رقم: 1211)
The lowering of the garments below the ankles is the way of the proud people, and it is a means by which pride comes into a person.
Pride in itself is a sin, as well as letting one’s Izar hang below the ankles.
May Allah save us from all types of sins. Ameen

Allah Knows Best. (M/Uddin 3/12)

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