Wearing Trousers Above Ankles Islam

Muslim men should wear their pants or pajamas above the ankles.

It is mentioned in the hadith that Muhammad (saw) said that Allah does not accept the Salah of a man who keeps his izaar (Pant or Pajama) below his ankle.

Bukhaari reported that the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Whatever of the izaar (lower garment (pant, trouser and pajama) is below the ankles is in the Fire” (al-Bukhaari, no: 5787).

The Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said that on the Day of Judgement, Allah will not show mercy to three individuals and will punish them with a painful retribution. These people being: one who wears garments lower than their ankles, one who engages in selling through dishonest oaths, and one who keeps reminding others of their benevolence. (Reported by Muslim, no: 106).

The Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “On the Day of Judgement, Allah will not look upon nor offer praise to three people, and they will suffer a painful punishment, the one who wears his garment below his ankles, the one who sells his product by means of making false oaths and the one who reminds others of his favours” (reported by Muslim, no: 106).

Hazrat Jaabir ibn Sulaym relayed a message from the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam): He warned against wearing one’s lower garment below the ankles, as this is considered a form of showing-off, which Allaah does not approve of. This hadeeth has been regarded as saheeh by al-Tirmidhi (no: 2722).

The Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) grabbed the muscle of Hazrat Hudhayfah’s (or his own) calf and said that the izaar should not go beyond that point. He added that it could be lower if desired, but should not reach the ankles. This is a saheeh hasan hadeeth, as reported by al-Tirmidhi (Sunan al-Tirmidhi, no: 1783).

The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said that Allah will not look at the one who trails his izaar out of pride. All the ahaadeeth mentioned above emphasise that isbaal is not permissible, even if it is not done for the purpose of showing off. However, if someone does it out of arrogance, their sin is greater.

Hazrat Ibn Abbaas reported that the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “Allah will not look at the one who wears his lower garment below his ankles” (Reported by al-Nisaai in al-Mujtabaa, Kitaab al-Zeenah, Baab Isbaal al-Izaar).

Hazrat Abu Saeed al-Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) taught that a Muslim’s clothing should reach at least to mid-calf, although it is acceptable if it is between mid-calf and the ankles. However, wearing anything lower than the ankles is an act of pride, and Allah will punish those who do so. (This is reported by Abu Dawud, no: 4093, with a saheeh isnaad).

Hazrat Jaabir ibn Sulaym reported that the Messenger (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) warned him to be cautious about the habit of wearing one’s lower garment below the ankles, for it is a kind of boastfulness which Allah does not appreciate.

It is impossible for anyone to be completely free of pride and arrogance, including those who claim to be so. Making such a claim is in itself an act of pride, as it is praising oneself. We only accept the notion that someone is free of pride in the case of those whose purity has been testified to by revelation, For example, there is a hadeeth which states that the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “Whoever trails his garment on the ground out of pride, Allah will not look at him on the Day of Resurrection” Abu Bakr said to him, “I asked the Prophet (peace be upon him), “O Messenger of Allah, if I am not cautious my izaar will slip down”. He replied, “He said that you were not acting in an arrogant manner” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, no: 5784).

These two hadiths describe distinct deeds, each of which has its own punishment:
Hazrat Imaam Ahmad reported that Hazrat Abd al-Rahmaan ibn Yaqoob said: “I asked Hazrat Abu Saeed: Did you hear anything from the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) concerning the izaar (lower garment) he said, Yes, listen! The length of the izaar worn by a believer should reach mid-calf; although there is nothing wrong if it falls between there and the ankles. Anything that is lower than the ankles, however, will bring about punishment in the Fire, and this was repeated three times”.

Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Umar said: “I passed by the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), and my izaar had slipped down, He said, O Abdullaah, pull up your izaar! so I pulled it up. He was asked to pull it up more, so he complied, making sure it was pulled up to mid-calf length and that it stayed that way afterwards. When questioned further, he stated that was where he had pulled it up to” (Reported by Muslim, no: 2086; al-Dhahabi, Kitaab al-Kabaair, 131-132).

The punishment for showing off may come to pass in this world, not in the Hereafter.

Hazrat Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “Whilst a man was walking arrogantly admiring himself and his clothes, Allaah has caused the earth to consume him and he will remain therein until the Day of Resurrection” (Reported by Muslim, no: 2088).

The issue of isbaal applies to women just as much as it applies to men.

This is indicated by the hadeeth of Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: “The Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: If someone trails their garment on the ground due to pride, Allaah will not look at them.

Hazrat Umm Salamah said: O Messenger of Allah, what should women do with their hems? He said, Let them go down a handspan, She asked, What if their feet show? He instructed them to increase the length by a cubit, but not more” (Baab dhuyool al-nisaa, al-Nisaa’i, Kitaab al-zeenah).