[Q 527] Lowering Garments Below Ankles

QUESTION:

In relation to the hadith prohibiting lowering the thobe below the ankles, does this apply in today’s age or is this principle abrogated on the basis that it’s no longer a sign of pride to wear your garment below your ankle?

ANSWER:

First of all, it should be understood that in the blessed Ahadith, keeping the garment below the ankles has not been declared to be pride in and of itself such that whenever a garment is below the ankles, pride necessarily exists. Rather, the warnings mentioned in the blessed Ahadith are specifically for letting the garment hang below the ankles due to Takabbur (pride).

Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq رضي الله تعالى عنه, upon hearing this blessed Hadith, submitted that his lower garment sometimes slips below his ankles. Upon this, the Noble Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم said that you are not among those who do so out of pride; therefore, this warning does not apply to you.

This means that the ruling of being Haram (forbidden) and sinful, and the warnings mentioned in the blessed Ahadith, apply only to those who keep their garments below the ankles because of Takabbur (pride). If someone lets his garment go below the ankles without the intention of pride, then it is neither unlawful nor sinful; however, it is Khilaaf-e-Sunnah (against the Sunnah) and Makruh Tanzihi (mildly disliked). Therefore, men should, as far as possible, take care to avoid this.

Hence, this Hadith is not abrogated. Rather, according to the detailed explanation mentioned above, the same ruling applies even in the present time.

The blessed Hadith states:

عن عبد الله بن عمر رضي الله عنهما، قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم:
«من جر ثوبه خيلاء، لم ينظر الله إليه يوم القيامة»
فقال أبو بكر: إن أحد شقي ثوبي يسترخي، إلا أن أتعاهد ذلك منه؟
فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم:
«إنك لست تصنع ذلك خيلاء»

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith no. 3665)

It is stated in Fatawa Razawiyyah:
“Keeping the lower garment below the ankles, if done for the sake of pride, is Haram (forbidden), and in this case the prayer becomes Makruh Tahrimi (severely disliked). Otherwise, it is only Makruh Tanzihi (mildly disliked), and even in prayer, its utmost level is being against what is more appropriate.”
(Fatawa Razawiyyah, Volume 7, Page 389, Raza Foundation)

Answered by: Mubashir Attari (AskMufti Scholar)
Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari
Translated answer
Date: 28th January 2026