Fatwa ID: 04909
Answered by: Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Question
Is it acceptable to only place trousers above the ankles for prayer?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer
It is unlawful to let the trousers be below the ankles in Salah and also outside Salah. The technical word to describe the act of placing the trousers below the ankle is Isbaal. Isbaal implies letting the garment drag and the act itself is considered to be showing off even if the wearer did not intend to show off as the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam said “Beware of letting your izaar (lower garment) drag, for letting the garment drag is showing off.” (See Fathul Bari p.264 v.10)
There are many ahadith that tell us the impermissibility of letting the garments drag below our ankles.
Saaiduna Mughirah Bin Shubah Radiallahu Anhu said: “I saw the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam, seized the wrap of Sufyan Bin Suhail, saying: ‘O Sufyan do not lower garments below the ankles, verily Allah detests those who lower their garments below the ankles. (Sunan Ibn Majah, Sunan Nasai and Sahih Ibn Hibban)
Saaiduna Abu Hurairah narrates that: “A man was praying with his garment below his ankles when the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam said: ‘Go and repeat your Wudu.’ So the man went and did his Wudu and returned. The Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam said: ‘Go and repeat your Wudu.’ So the man went and repeated his Wudu and returned. The man asked: ‘O Prophet of Allah what is it that you told him to do Wudu (again) and then you did not say anything?’ The Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam said: ‘He was praying with his garment below his ankles, verily Allah does not accept the prayer of a man who lowers his garments.’ (Sunan Abi Dawud p.100 v.1)
One final point to mention and that is to say, it is Makruh Tahrimi to perform salah with the trousers or jubbah below the ankles; however, the obligation (fardhiyat) of one’s Salah will be done. (Fatawa Darul Uloom Deoband p.127 v.4)
Only Allah Knows Best
Written by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham