Analysis of the Ḥadīth: “Do Not Expose Your Thigh…”

Narrated Ḥadīth:

Sayyidunā ʿAlī رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
لَا تُبْرِزْ فَخِذَكَ وَلَا تَنْظُرْ إِلَى فَخِذِ حَيٍّ وَلَا مَيِّتٍ

“Do not expose your thigh, and do not look at the thigh of a living or dead person.”

[Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 3140, 4015 | al-Sunan al-Kubrā by al-Bayhaqī: 2/228]

Commentary:

❖ The chain of narration is extremely weak.
Here are the key issues:

Ibn Jurayj is a Mudallis (one who omits his teacher in the chain) and did not hear from Ḥabīb ibn Abī Thābit directly.

Ḥabīb ibn Abī Thābit is also a Mudallis and did not hear from ʿĀṣim ibn Ḍumrah. Between them is ʿAmr ibn Khālid al-Wāsiṭī, who is accused of fabrication and is abandoned (matrūk).

Imām Abū Dāwūd رحمه الله himself commented on this narration:هَذَا الْحَدِيثُ فِيهِ نَكَارَةٌ

“This ḥadīth is objectionable (munkar/weak).”
[Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 4015]

Conclusion:

This narration is not reliable due to multiple weaknesses in the chain and statements of criticism by ḥadīth scholars. Hence, it cannot be used as evidence in Islamic rulings.
 
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