Correct trouser length Fatwa No: 81448
- Fatwa Date:1-9-2004
Some people believe that the wearing of normal length trousers is Haram. They roll up their trousers. Is it not the duty of the Muslim to look presentable so as to assure non-Muslims in such places as Europe that Islam is a modern religion that has more to do with the building of a good person/family/ society/country than appearances? If there is a Hadith that indicates that the ankles should not be covered, is the context of the Hadith general to all places and times or was it specific to certain circumstances? Are we not failing to "market" Islam correctly to these societies by using the wrong approach?
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alyhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
Dear brother,
We are very grateful to you for your good feelings towards Islam; may Allaah bless you.
There is no doubt that a Muslim requires good common sense in promoting Islam. It is badly needed for every Muslim to learn more and more about Islam, and the conduct of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam .
Islam has some eternal basics like creed, prayer, obligations etc. and some subsidiary teachings, that is, sub-essential ones. We should concentrate on the basics of Islam but not minimize the importance of other teachings. We should avoid conflict over minor details.
In principle, dear brother, all Muslims should try their best to adhere to the Islamic way of life in their private and public affairs. Every Muslim should be proud of his religion. Whenever we get a sound Hadeeth of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, we should try to follow it whether people like or not.
Dear brother, the problem does not lie in the teachings of Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, but the main problem is that very many Muslims do not follow Islam, and this is why a person seems strange if he adheres to Islamic teachings.
We should be proud to follow the Sunnah. If a person follows minute practices of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, we should commend him. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, gave very glad tidings to those who revive a Sunnah after it has been given up by people. We ask Allaah to bless all Muslims and to increase them in good knowledge of Islam, He is Merciful and Beneficent.
You should know that Allaah has ordered us to follow Islam and not the etiquettes of the non-Muslims. He states in the Holy Quran that neither the Jews nor the Christians will be pleased with us till we (Muslims) follow them; He Says (what means): {Never will the Jews nor the Christians be pleased with you till you follow their religion. Say, “Indeed, the guidance of Allaah (i.e. Islamic Monotheism) is the (only) guidance. And if you were to follow their (Jews and Christians) desires after what you have received of knowledge, then you would have against Allaah neither any protector nor any helper.}[Quran 2:120]
The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, warned us of a severe threat when he said: “The part of a garment which is below the ankles is destined to be in the Hellfire.” [Al-Bukhari]
Try your best to be on the condition accepted by Allaah. Do not care about what people say.
Allaah Knows best.