Taken from: "Ahkam wa Masail in the Light of the Qur’an and Hadith", Volume 02
Is the prayer of a person who wears his garment below the ankles accepted? There are Hadiths warning of Hellfire for doing so. According to the fatwa of the scholars of Hijaz, such a person's prayer is valid, but is there any explicit evidence for this? Also, one Hadith mentions that the Prophet ﷺ instructed a man to repeat his wudu because he was wearing his garment below his ankles during prayer. What are the scholars' views on the authenticity of this Hadith?
✦ The issue of lowering one’s garment below the ankles (Isbāl al-Izār) has been addressed in various Hadiths and discussed by jurists. The Prophet ﷺ prohibited this action and warned of punishment in Hellfire for those who do it. One Hadith states:
"Whoever lets his garment hang below the ankles will be in Hellfire."
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Libas)
A narration from Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه in Sunan Abu Dawud mentions that a man was praying with his garment hanging below his ankles. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ told him to repeat his wudu. When asked why, he said:
"He was praying with his garment hanging down, and Allah does not accept the prayer of a man who performs it while letting his garment hang below his ankles."
(Sunan Abu Dawud)
① Imam al-Mundhiri classified the Hadith as weak.
② Allama Mubarakpuri graded it as hasan (sound).
③ Imam Nawawi stated that it is authentic according to the conditions of Muslim.
④ Shaykh al-Albani also deemed the Hadith weak.
This illustrates a divergence of opinions among Hadith scholars regarding the strength of this narration and its application.
Most scholars agree that letting the garment hang below the ankles is sinful, but it does not invalidate the prayer, provided that all other conditions of prayer are fulfilled. This is also the opinion of Shaykh ʿAbd al-ʿAziz ibn Baz, who stated that although the act is sinful and incurs divine displeasure, the prayer remains valid.
① The prayer of a person who lowers his garment below the ankles is valid, but the act itself is sinful and incurs Allah’s displeasure.
② The Hadith about repeating wudu due to lowered garments has varying degrees of authenticity, ranging from weak to hasan.
③ The sin of isbāl does not affect the validity of the prayer, though it should be avoided.
Wallāhu Aʿlam.
❀ Question:
Is the prayer of a person who wears his garment below the ankles accepted? There are Hadiths warning of Hellfire for doing so. According to the fatwa of the scholars of Hijaz, such a person's prayer is valid, but is there any explicit evidence for this? Also, one Hadith mentions that the Prophet ﷺ instructed a man to repeat his wudu because he was wearing his garment below his ankles during prayer. What are the scholars' views on the authenticity of this Hadith?
❀ Answer:
✦ The issue of lowering one’s garment below the ankles (Isbāl al-Izār) has been addressed in various Hadiths and discussed by jurists. The Prophet ﷺ prohibited this action and warned of punishment in Hellfire for those who do it. One Hadith states:
"Whoever lets his garment hang below the ankles will be in Hellfire."
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Libas)
✿ On the Hadith Regarding Prayer While the Garment is Lowered:
A narration from Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه in Sunan Abu Dawud mentions that a man was praying with his garment hanging below his ankles. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ told him to repeat his wudu. When asked why, he said:
"He was praying with his garment hanging down, and Allah does not accept the prayer of a man who performs it while letting his garment hang below his ankles."
(Sunan Abu Dawud)
✦ Scholarly Views on the Authenticity of This Hadith:
① Imam al-Mundhiri classified the Hadith as weak.
② Allama Mubarakpuri graded it as hasan (sound).
③ Imam Nawawi stated that it is authentic according to the conditions of Muslim.
④ Shaykh al-Albani also deemed the Hadith weak.
This illustrates a divergence of opinions among Hadith scholars regarding the strength of this narration and its application.
✿ On the Validity of Prayer:
Most scholars agree that letting the garment hang below the ankles is sinful, but it does not invalidate the prayer, provided that all other conditions of prayer are fulfilled. This is also the opinion of Shaykh ʿAbd al-ʿAziz ibn Baz, who stated that although the act is sinful and incurs divine displeasure, the prayer remains valid.
✔ Summary:
① The prayer of a person who lowers his garment below the ankles is valid, but the act itself is sinful and incurs Allah’s displeasure.
② The Hadith about repeating wudu due to lowered garments has varying degrees of authenticity, ranging from weak to hasan.
③ The sin of isbāl does not affect the validity of the prayer, though it should be avoided.
Wallāhu Aʿlam.
