Taken from: Fatawa Arkan al-Islam
If a person lets his garment hang below the ankles out of arrogance, what is his punishment?
And if it is without arrogance, what is the ruling?
Also, how should the hadith of Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) be understood in this matter?
Whoever does this out of pride has been given a severe warning.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«ثَـلَاثَةٌ لَا يُکَلِّمُهُمُ اللّٰهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَلَا يَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَا يُزَکِّيْهِمْ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ: الْمُسْبِلُ وَالْمَنَّانُ وَالْمُنَفِّقُ سِلْعَتَه بِالْحَلْفِ الْکَاذِبِ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Īmān, ḥadīth: 106)
Meaning:
There are three types of people whom Allah will not speak to on the Day of Judgment, will not look at, will not purify them, and for them is a painful punishment:
Even without arrogance, a warning still exists, although of a different nature.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«مَا أَسْفَلَ مِنَ الْکَعْبَيْنِ مِنَ الْإِزَارِ فَفِی النَّارِ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Libās, ḥadīth: 5787)
Meaning:
"Whatever part of the lower garment is below the ankles is in the Fire."
In this hadith, no condition of arrogance is mentioned. Thus, making this ruling conditional upon arrogance is incorrect.
He narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
«إِزَارَةُ الْمُؤمنِ إِلَی نِصْفِ السَّاقِ وَلَا حَرَجَ ـأَوقال:ْ لَا جُنَاح عليهَ ـ فِيمَا بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ الْکَعْبَيْن وِ مَا کَانَ أَسْفَلَ مِنْ ذلکِ فَهُوَ فِی النَّارِ وِ مَنْ جَرَّ إِزَارَهُ بَطَرًا لَمْ يَنْظُرِ اللّٰهُ إِلَيْه يوم القيامهِ»
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd, ḥadīth: 4093; Sunan Ibn Mājah, ḥadīth: 3573; Musnad Aḥmad, 3/5)
Meaning:
When the action and the cause differ, it is wrong to apply the ruling of one to the other.
Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) said:
«إِنَّ أَحَدَ شِقَّیْ ثَوْبِی يَسْتَرْخِی إِلَّا أَنْ أَتَعَاهَدَ ذَلِکَ مِنْهُ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Libās, ḥadīth: 5784)
Meaning:
"One side of my garment slips down unless I take care to lift it."
This shows:
The Prophet ﷺ himself confirmed Abu Bakr’s (رضي الله عنه) sincerity.
Can anyone today claim such a testimony from the Prophet ﷺ?
It is worth remembering: Shayṭān misleads people by making them follow ambiguous texts to justify sins, but Allah guides whom He wills.
We ask Allah for guidance and safety for ourselves and others.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
Question:
If a person lets his garment hang below the ankles out of arrogance, what is his punishment?
And if it is without arrogance, what is the ruling?
Also, how should the hadith of Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) be understood in this matter?
1. Hanging the Garment Below the Ankles with Arrogance
Whoever does this out of pride has been given a severe warning.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«ثَـلَاثَةٌ لَا يُکَلِّمُهُمُ اللّٰهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَلَا يَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَا يُزَکِّيْهِمْ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ: الْمُسْبِلُ وَالْمَنَّانُ وَالْمُنَفِّقُ سِلْعَتَه بِالْحَلْفِ الْکَاذِبِ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Īmān, ḥadīth: 106)
Meaning:
There are three types of people whom Allah will not speak to on the Day of Judgment, will not look at, will not purify them, and for them is a painful punishment:
- The one who lets his garment hang low.
- The one who reminds others of his charity.
- The one who sells goods by swearing falsely.
2. Hanging the Garment Below the Ankles Without Arrogance
Even without arrogance, a warning still exists, although of a different nature.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«مَا أَسْفَلَ مِنَ الْکَعْبَيْنِ مِنَ الْإِزَارِ فَفِی النَّارِ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Libās, ḥadīth: 5787)
Meaning:
"Whatever part of the lower garment is below the ankles is in the Fire."
In this hadith, no condition of arrogance is mentioned. Thus, making this ruling conditional upon arrogance is incorrect.
3. Supporting Evidence – Hadith of Abu Saʿīd al-Khudrī (رضي الله عنه)
He narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
«إِزَارَةُ الْمُؤمنِ إِلَی نِصْفِ السَّاقِ وَلَا حَرَجَ ـأَوقال:ْ لَا جُنَاح عليهَ ـ فِيمَا بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ الْکَعْبَيْن وِ مَا کَانَ أَسْفَلَ مِنْ ذلکِ فَهُوَ فِی النَّارِ وِ مَنْ جَرَّ إِزَارَهُ بَطَرًا لَمْ يَنْظُرِ اللّٰهُ إِلَيْه يوم القيامهِ»
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd, ḥadīth: 4093; Sunan Ibn Mājah, ḥadīth: 3573; Musnad Aḥmad, 3/5)
Meaning:
- A believer’s garment should be up to the middle of the shin.
- There is no harm if it is between the shin and the ankles.
- Whatever is below the ankles is in the Fire.
- Whoever drags his garment out of arrogance, Allah will not look at him on the Day of Judgment.
4. Two Separate Actions – Two Different Punishments
- Wearing a garment below the ankles with arrogance = One sin, severe punishment (Allah will not speak, look, or purify him).
- Wearing it below the ankles without arrogance = Another sin, different warning (portion below ankles in the Fire).
When the action and the cause differ, it is wrong to apply the ruling of one to the other.
5. Response to the Hadith of Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه)
Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) said:
«إِنَّ أَحَدَ شِقَّیْ ثَوْبِی يَسْتَرْخِی إِلَّا أَنْ أَتَعَاهَدَ ذَلِکَ مِنْهُ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Libās, ḥadīth: 5784)
Meaning:
"One side of my garment slips down unless I take care to lift it."
This shows:
- His garment fell unintentionally.
- He would correct it and keep it above the ankles.
- The Prophet ﷺ personally testified that Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) did not do this out of arrogance.
6. Applying This Today
- If someone lets his garment hang below the ankles without arrogance, the part below the ankles will be in the Fire.
- If he does so with arrogance, then:
- Allah will not speak to him.
- Allah will not look at him.
- Allah will not purify him.
- He will have a painful punishment.
7. Can Anyone Claim the Same as Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه)?
The Prophet ﷺ himself confirmed Abu Bakr’s (رضي الله عنه) sincerity.
Can anyone today claim such a testimony from the Prophet ﷺ?
It is worth remembering: Shayṭān misleads people by making them follow ambiguous texts to justify sins, but Allah guides whom He wills.
We ask Allah for guidance and safety for ourselves and others.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
