Hadith 4119

حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ ، أَخْبَرَنِي زَيْدٌ الْعَمِّيُّ ، عَنْ أَبِي الصِّدِّيقِ النَّاجِيِّ ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ ، قَالَ : " رَخَّصَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لِأُمَّهَاتِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فِي الذَّيْلِ شِبْرًا ثُمَّ اسْتَزَدْنَهُ فَزَادَهُنَّ شِبْرًا فَكُنَّ يُرْسِلْنَ إِلَيْنَا فَنَذْرَعُ لَهُنَّ ذِرَاعًا " .
Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ gave licence to others of the believers (i. e. the wives of the Prophet) to hang down their lower garment a span. Then they asked him to increase it, and he increased one span for them. They would send (the garment) to us and we would measure it one forearm's length for them.
Hadith Reference سنن ابي داود / كتاب اللباس / 4119
Hadith Grading الألبانی: صحيح  |  زبیر علی زئی: ضعيف, إسناده ضعيف, ابن ماجه (3581), زيد العمي : ضعيف (تق : 2131) وقال الھيثمي : وضعفه الجمھور (مجمع الزوائد 10 / 110), والحديث السابق (الأصل : 4117) يغني عنه, انوار الصحيفه، صفحه نمبر 146
Hadith Takhrij « سنن ابن ماجہ/ اللباس 13 (3581)، (تحفة الأشراف: 6661)، وقد أخرجہ: سنن الترمذی/اللباس 9 (1731)، مسند احمد (2/18، 90) (صحیح) »
Related hadith on this topic
Explanation & Benefits
Shaykh Umar Farooq Saeedi
Benefits and Issues:
For women, the length of their sheets (chadors) is in comparison to the shirts (qamees) of men, not in comparison to the ground.
Source: Sunan Abu Dawood – Commentary by Shaykh Umar Farooq Saeedi, Page: 4119
Hafiz Muhammad Ameen
(1) “One span” means one span below the middle of the shin; only then will the feet be uncovered. If it is one span below the ankles, then the feet will be covered. “One hand” also refers to one hand’s length below the middle of the shin. In this case, the hem will begin to drag on the ground, and the feet will also not be uncovered, even if the woman is walking.

(2) “Be uncovered” — it is as if it is preferable for women that their feet not be uncovered; however, it is not obligatory to cover the feet, because the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam only made it necessary to go one span below.

(3) “One hand” — in Arabic, the word “dhira’” is used, meaning the distance from the edge of the elbow bone to the tip of the middle finger. In Arabic, this distance is called a dhira’. In Urdu, it is referred to as a “hand.”
Source: Sunan Nasa'i: Translation and Benefits by Shaykh Hafiz Muhammad Amin Hafizullah, Page: 5338