BENEFIT 379: Men Are Not Permitted to Wear Clothing Below the Ankles

Question: When you tell someone, "Whatever is below the ankles of the lower garment is in the Fire," they respond by citing the Prophet’s ﷺ statement to Abu Bakr: "You are not among those who let their garments drag out of arrogance." Sheikh Najeeb Ash-Shar’abi ḥafidhahullāh responds: This is because Abu Bakr (may Allāh be pleased with him) did not do so intentionally. Rather, his lower garment would loosen, and he would continuously adjust it. For someone in this situation, there is no blame upon him. In Sahih Al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, ’Abdullah ibn ’Umar (may Allāh be pleased with them both) reported that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said: "Whoever drags his garment out of arrogance, Allāh will not look at him on the Day of Judgment." In another narration recorded by Al-Bukhari (Hadith no. 3665), Abu Bakr said: "One side of my lower garment loosens unless I take care to keep it in place." The Prophet ﷺ responded: "You are not among those who do it out of arrogance." In another narration in Al-Bukhari (Hadith no. 5784), the Prophet said: "You are not among those who do it out of arrogance." As for isbaal (letting one's lower garment extend below the ankles) concerning men, it is a major sin. If it is accompanied by arrogance, it becomes an even graver sin. Imam Adh-Dhahabi (may Allāh have mercy on him) said in Siyar A‘lam An-Nubala’ (Vol. 3, p. 234): "Any clothing that instills arrogance and pride in a person must be abandoned, even if it is neither gold nor silk. We see young men wearing woolen cloaks lined with expensive furs worth four hundred dirhams or more, and their arrogance is apparent in their gait. If you advise them gently, they resist and say, 'I do not feel arrogance or pride.' Likewise, you see the affluent scholar, when criticised for letting his robe extend below his ankles, responds: 'The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whatever is below the ankles of the lower garment is in the Fire,” but he was referring to those who do it out of arrogance, and I do not do it arrogantly.' Thus, he argues stubbornly, absolving himself of arrogance while misapplying a clear and general text by restricting it with another hadith that speaks specifically about arrogance. He then seeks to justify himself by citing Abu Bakr’s statement: "O Messenger of Allāh, my lower garment loosens." To which the Prophet ﷺ replied: "You are not among those who do it out of arrogance." Adh-Dhahabi (may Allāh have mercy on him) further stated: "Abu Bakr (may Allāh be pleased with him) did not initially tie his garment below his ankles. Rather, he tied it above his ankles, but it would later slip down unintentionally. The Prophet ﷺ said: “The believer’s lower garment should reach the middle of his shins. There is no harm if it extends between that and the ankles.” Source: https://t.me/qweasdzxcmnblkjpoik/3612