I live in South Africa. My question is about Islaamic rulings. In a mosque where we are used to pray an Imaam wears a cloth which cover his two ankles and one person decided to pray alone (not to follow Imaam) because there is a Hadeeth that says any one who covers his ankles will be in Jahannam. Is this correct? Is it Waajib for the whole world to fast (Ramadhaan) or to break their fast for the moon sighted in Saudi Arabia? I need a full explanation on these matters.

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 is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

A Muslim should not refrain from performing his prayers with the congregation because the Imaam wears a garment that exceeds his ankles, which is called al-Isbaal in Arabic.

Know that many Muslim scholars believe that al-Isbaal (lowering one's garment beyond ankles) is not prohibited unless it is accompanied with the intention of arrogance, and they differ about whether or not it is disliked. They construe the prohibition of al-Isbaal as limited, according to those narrations that relate the prohibition, to arrogance and conceit.

But, we do not think that this stated opinion is the dominant one. In other words, we believe that al-Isbaal is prohibited as we mentioned in other Fataawa. However, we draw the attention of all our brothers that we have to respect and honor all differences that are based on evidence from (Qur'aan or Sunnah), and the difference in the issue of  al-Isbaal is one of them.

So, this point does not constitute a real reason for a Muslim to give up performing prayers in congregation. Also, such differences should not lead to enmity and hatred among Muslims.

Allaah knows best.