ThE
StyLe oF RaSuLuLLaH's (SAW) GaRmEnT...
FOR MALES
-----------------------------------------------
THE TROUSERS
The Books of Hadith contain many authentic Hadith clearly
explaining the style of Rasulullah's izaar. There is absolutely
no difference of opinion among any of the innumerable authorities
of the Shariah from the very inception of Islam that Rasulullah
(sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and his Sahaabah always wore
their izaar and trousers above their ankles. In addition
to their practical example, Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi
wasallam) and the Sahaabah verbally propagated in explicit
terms the prohibition of wearing the trousers below the
ankles. This style is completely unrelated to age and time.
There was no incumbency of the era to wear the trousers
in this manner nor were there any physical or geographic
restraints or factors which compelled the adoption of this
style.
THE
AHADITH
We shall now present the relevant authentic Ahadith o¬n
the issue of the trousers below and above the ankles and
then proceed to further refute.
(1)
Abu Hurairah (Radhiyallahu anhu) narrates: Rasulullah (sallallahu
alayhi wasallam) said: "Whatever of the garment is
below the ankles will be in the Fire (of Jahannum).(Bukhaari)
(2)
Ibn Umar (Radhiyallahu anhu) narrates: "Verily the
Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said: Whoever hangs his
garment in pride, Allah will not look at him (with mercy)
o¬n the day of Qiyaamah." (Bukhaari and Muslim)
(3)
Abu Saeed al-Kudri (Radhiyallahu anhu) narrates: "I
heard Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) saying: The
izaar of the Mu'min is halfway on the forelegs (i.e. midway
between the knees and the ankles). There is no sin o¬n
him in that which is between it and the ankles. And, whatever
is below this is in the Fire (of Jahannum). He (Rasulullah
?sallallahu alayhi wasallam) repeated this statement) three
times, and, he said: Allah will not look (with mercy) at
the person who hangs his izaar in pride." (Abu Dawood
and Ibn Maajah)
(4)
Ibn Umar (radhiyallahu anhu) narrates: "I passed by
Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) while my trousers
were hanging (i.e. below the ankles). He then exclaimed:
O Abdullah! Raise your izaar. I then raised it (a bit).
Then he (Rasulullah- sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said: Raise
it more! I then raised it more. Thereafter I was always
conscious of it." Some people asked: Until where (did
you raise it)? He (Ibn Umar) said: Until midway of the forleg."
(Muslim)
(5)
Ubaid Bin Khaalid (radhiyallahu anhu) narrates: While I
was walking in Madinah, (I heard) someone behind me say:
"Raise your izaar! Verily it (raising the garment)
is better for piety and preservation (of the garment)."
I then looked behind and observed that it was Rasulullah
(sallallahu alayhi wasallam). I then said: O Rasulullah!
It is a simple (of inferior quality and price) garment.
Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) commented: "What
is there not for you in me an example (to follow)?"
When I looked (at Rasulullah's garment), his izaar was midway
o¬n his forlegs." (Tirmizi)
(6)
Salmah Bin Akwa' (radhiyallahu anhu) narrates: "Uthmaan
(radhiyallahu anhu) would wear his trousers midway o¬n
his forlegs, and he would say: ?So was the izaar of my Companion,
i.e. Nabi -sallallahu alayhi wasallam)." (Tirmizi)
(7)
Huzaifah Bin Yamaan (radhiyallahu anhu) narrates: Rasulullah
(sallallahu alayhi wasallam) took hold of the flesh of my
foreleg (or of his foreleg) and said: ?This is the location
for the izaar. If you are not satisfied (with this position),
then a bit lower. And if you are still not satisfied, then
know that the izaar has no right in the ankles." (Tirmizi)
Everyone who has studied a bit of the history of the Sahaabah,
is aware that Hadhrat Ibn Umar (radhiyallahu anhu) was such
a staunch and ardent follower of the minutest details of
the Sunnah, that people believed that he would become insane.
Pride was never the reason for him having worn his trousers
below his ankles. When Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam)
saw this, he commanded him to raise his garment midway between
the knees and the ankles. The issue of pride never featured
in his wearing his trousers below his ankles nor in the
argument of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) o¬n
the occasion when he issued his instruction to this devotee
of the Sunnah.
PRIDE
In some narrations the reason for wearing the trousers below
the ankles is stated as pride. While this was the actual
reason in those times for this prohibited style, it was
not always the case with everyone who would wear his trousers
below his ankles. Hence, we find Rasulullah (sallallahu
alayhi wasallam) issuing stern warnings and threats of the
punishment of the Fire for those who wear their trousers
in the fashion of the proud people. So whether o¬ne
wears the trousers below the ankles for the sake of pride
or not, o¬ne is undoubtedly, imitating the style of
the proud o¬nes and the style of the kuffaar. Imitating
the kuffaar by itself is a factor of prohibition.
ABU
BAKR RA
The solitary narration which the denigrators of Rasulullah's
practice are able to produce as ?evidence' is the Hadith
in which it is mentioned that Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi
wasallam) allowed Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu anhu) to wear his
garment below his ankles. To present this Hadith in substantiation
of the claim, the aim of which is to negate the style of
Rasulullah (sallalahu alayhi wasallam), is ludicrous and
utterly baseless. The Hadith in question is very clear as
for the reason of the permission granted to Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu
anhu) who was highly perturbed by his inability to maintain
his garment above his ankles. He therefore, discussed this
matter with Nabi-e-Kareem (sallallahu alayhi wasallam).
Abu Bakr (Radhiyallahu anhu) was a man with a big stomach.
Inspite of all his efforts to keep his garment in place,
he failed. His garment would repeatedly slide down over
his ankles. The Hadith in question explicitly mentions this
fact. In view of this condition and his inability to retain
his garment in position above his ankles, he was exempted
from the prohibition. But he had a valid reason.
THE
ACTUAL POSITION
According to the Shaafi Math-hab there are different degrees
of prohibition for the style of wearing the trousers below
the ankles. Explaining this, Imaam Nawawi (a Shaafi authority)
states in his Sharhul Muslim. "It is not permissible
to hang the garment below the ankles if it is for pride.
If it is for a reason other than pride, it is Makrooh. The
Mustahab requirement is midway of the calves (the forelegs)
as it is stated in the Hadith of Ibn Umar. Midway of the
forelegs is Mustahab. Below this limit until the ankles
is permissible without it being Makrooh. What descends below
the ankles is Mamnoo' (prohibited). If it is for pride,
then the prohibition is of the haraam category (i.e. Makrooh
Tahrimi). And, if it is not for pride, the prohibition is
of the tanzihi category (i.e. Makrooh Tanzihi)." Makrooh
Tanzihi does not mean ?permissible'. It remains a detestable
act in the Shariah. In fact, persistence o¬n a Makrooh
Tanzihi act transforms it into Makrooh Tahrimi which is
sinful and a punishable offence. It makes a man a faasiq.
Clutching at straws is not Shar'i evidence for a claim.
THE
FACTORS
From the foregoing explanation it will be understood that
there are several factors for the prohibition of wearing
the garment below the ankles:
(a)
It is the style of the kuffaar. Whoever imitates the kuffaar
becomes of them.
(b)
It is the way of the mutakabbireen (proud people). So whether
o¬ne has pride or not, is immaterial. The fact that
the mutakabbireen's style is adopted in itself is a grave
sin.
(c)
The opposite style (wearing above the ankles) is 'atqaa'
and abqaa' according to Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam).
(d)
Wearing the garment above the ankles is part of the Uswah-e-Hasanah
(Beautiful Life Pattern) of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi
wasallam). The Qur'aan commands adoption of this Sunnah.
(e)
The trousers have no haqq (right) o¬n the ankles according
to the explicit pronouncement of Rasulullah (sallallahu
alayhi wasallam).
(f)
What is below the ankles will be in the Fire of Jahannum.