Chapter 119 - Description of the length of Qamees and the Sleeves, the end of the Turban, the Prohibition of wearing long Garments out of Pride and the undesirability of wearing them without Pride

Asma` bint Yazid reported: The Qamees sleeves of The Messenger of Allah reached down to his wrists. [Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi].


Commentary: This Hadith simply tells us that The Messenger of Allah used to wear a Qamees with long sleeves (up to the wrist); but in the case of all the other clothes, apart from the Qamees, the sleeves should not go beyond the finger tips.

Ibn `Umar reported: The Prophet said,

"Whoever allows his lower garment to drag out of vanity will find that Allah will not look at him on the Day of Resurrection.''

On this Abu Bakr submitted: "O The Messenger of Allah! My lower garment keeps sliding down though I take care to pull it and wrap it.'' The Messenger of Allah said,

"You are not of those who do it out of vanity.'' [Al-Bukhari].


Commentary: The Messenger of Allah has given a severe warning to those who intentionally wear a dress which is dragging along the ground because this is a sign of arrogance. Yet, if a person's garment unintentionally slips downward he will not be put to accountability.

Abu Hurairah reported: The Messenger of Allah said,

"On the Day of Resurrection, Allah will not look at him who trails his lower garment out of pride.'' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].


Commentary: A disregard of Allah's Favours and gifts means ungratefulness which is essentially manifested in a haughty attitude. It is also a sign of arrogance that one wears a dress with the hem trailing on the ground.

Abu Hurairah reported: The Prophet said,

"What is below the ankles of a lower garment is condemned to the Fire (Hell).'' [Al-Bukhari].


Commentary: The apparent sense of the Hadith words is that the part of the dress hanging down below the ankles will be put into Hell-fire. Yet, if this is the fate of the particular piece of cloth the wearer will surely go to Hell. When Nafi` was asked about it he said, "Yes, but what sins have the clothes committed?''

Abu Dharr reported: I heard the Prophet saying,

"There are three to whom Allah will neither speak on the Day of Resurrection nor will look at them nor purify them (i.e., of their sins), and they will be severely tormented.''

When he repeated this (statement) thrice, Abu Dharr said: "They are doomed and destroyed! (But) who are they, O The Messenger of Allah?'' He   said,

"One whose lower garment trails, one who boasts of kindness shown to another; and one who promotes sale of his business by taking false oaths.'' [Muslim].


Commentary: This Hadith sheds light on three major sins which, unfortunately, prevail in Muslim societies. May Allah amend the lapses of Muslims' behaviour! Ameen

Ibn `Umar (Radhi Allahu Anhuma) reported: The Prophet said,

"On the Day of Resurrection, Allah will not look at one who trails his lower garment, Qamees or turban arrogantly.'' [Abu Dawud and An-Nasa'i].


Commentary: This Hadith tells us if trousers and pajamas, out of pride etc., hang loose below the ankles, the wearer will be committing a grave blunder. The excessive hang of shirt or turban out of pride is also a sign of arrogance and involves the wearer in a major sin. Wearing long garments without the intention of pride is disliked.

Abu Juraiy Jabir bin Sulaim reported: I noticed a man whose opinion was followed by every body, and no one acted contrary to what he said. I asked who he was, and I was informed that he was the Messenger of Allah . I said to him twice: "Alaikas-salam ya Rasul-Allah (may Allah render you safe).'' He  said,

"Do not say: `Alaikas-salamu.' This is the salutation to the dead (in Jahiliyyah times). Say, instead: `Assalamu `alaika (may Allah render you safe).'''

I asked: "Are you The Messenger of Allah?'' He   replied,

"(Yes) I am the The Messenger of Allah, Who will remove your affliction when you are in trouble and call to Him, Who will cause food to grow for you when you are famine-stricken and call to Him, and Who will restore to you your lost riding beast in the desert when you call upon Him.''  

I said to him: "Give me instructions (to act upon).'' He said,

"Do not abuse anyone.''

(Since then I have never abused anyone, neither a freeman, nor a slave, nor a camel, nor a sheep). He continued,

"Do not hold in contempt even an insignificant act of goodness, because even talking to your brother with a cheerful countenance is an act of goodness. Hold up your lower garment half way to the leg, and at least above the ankles; for trailing it is arrogance, and Allah dislikes pride. And if a man imputes to you of bad things he knows you possess, do not impute to him bad things that you know he has for he will assume the evil consequences of his abuse.'' [Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi].


Commentary: Herein, we are informed that the Companions of The Messenger of Allah would lend a ready ear to the Prophet's    advice and put it into practice resolutely. Besides, in Islam the greeting of peace or Salam is alike to the living as well as the dead.

The Hadith also tells us about the desirable length of Izar or lower garment. Shari`ah allows it up to the ankles, but if it goes below, the wearer will be involved in a serious transgression incurring Hell-fire as mentioned earlier.
Second, any good act, however small it may be, must not be underestimated and ignored. At no cost should it be given up.
Third, nobody should be reproached for his fault or mistake, that is, he should not be put to humiliation in public for it. However, in private conversation he may be advised to improve his behaviour and desist from repeating his mistake.

Abu Hurairah reported: The Messenger of Allah said to a man who was performing Salat while his lower garment was trailing,

"Go and perform your Wudu' again.''

That man went and came back having performed it. The  Messenger of Allah said (again),

"Go and perform your Wudu'.''

Someone present said to The Messenger of Allah "O The Messenger of Allah! You ask him to perform his Wudu' and then you kept silent (without saying the reason for it).'' He said,

"He performed Salat while his lower garment was below his ankles. Allah does not accept the Salat of a man who trails his lower garment.'' [Abu Dawud].

Qais bin Bishr At-Taghlibi reported that his father, who attended the company of `Abud-Darda'  told him: There was a man in Damascus who was a Companion of the Messenger of Allah . He was called Ibn Al-Hanzaliyyah. He was a lonesome person and would rarely spend some time in the
company of people. He would spend most of his time in performing Salat and when he finished, he would engage himself in Tasbih (Subhan-Allah) and Takbir (Allahu Akbar), till he would go home. He passed by us one day when we were sitting with Abud-Darda' . The latter said to him: "Tell us something which will benefit for us and will not harm you.'' He said: "The Messenger of Allah sent a detachment. When they returned, one of them came to the assemblage in which The Messenger of Allah was present and said to his neighbour during the conversation: `I wish you had seen us when we encountered the enemy. So-and-so (a believer) took up his spear, struck and said: Take this from me and I am the Ghifari boy. Now what do you think of this?' The neighbour said: `I think that he lost his reward because of boasting.' He said: `I see no harm in it.' They began to exchange arguments till The Messenger of Allah heard them and said,

`Subhan-Allah (Allah is free from every imperfection). He would be rewarded (in the Hereafter) and praised (in this world)'.  

I noticed that Abud-Darda' felt a great pleasure at this remark and, raising his head began to repeat: "Have you heard The Messenger of Allah say this!'' Ibn Al-Hanzaliyyah continued responding till I asked Abud-Darda' not to annoy him.


Ibn Al-Hanzaliyyah happened to pass by us another day and Abud-Darda'   said to him: "Tell us something which will benefit us and will not harm you.'' He said: "The Messenger of Allah told us,

 `He who spends to purchase a horse (for Jihad) is like one who extends his hand for spending out of charity without withholding it.'''


He passed by us another day and Abud-Darda' said to him: "Tell us something which might benefit us, and will not harm you.'' He said: "The Messenger of Allah once said,  

`Khuraim Al-Usaidi is an excellent man were it not of his long hair and his lower garment which is hanging down.'

When Khuraim heard about what the Prophet had said about him, he trimmed his long hair up to his ears with a knife and raised his lower garment half way on his shanks.''


On another occasion he passed by us and Abud-Darda' said to him: "Tell us something that will benefit us and will not harm you.'' He said that he heard The Messenger of Allah say, while coming back from an expedition:

"You are returning to your brothers, so set your saddles and clothes in order so that you look tidy and graceful. Allah hates untidiness.''
[Abu Dawud].


Commentary: This Hadith talks about six points.

First, a war cry expressive of one's chivalrous deeds and designed to intimidate the enemy is permissible.
Second, it is not an impeachable act and will be rewarded by Allah if it is done with a good intention.
Third, hair should be grown either up to the earlobes or up to the neck-end as was the Prophet's practice. The Prophet disapproved the long hair upon the shoulders.
Fourth, on return from a journey, a man is advised to clean up his appearance and dust-covered clothes; due to the fatigue and dust of journey, he may appear untidy and out of shape. With his ruffled hair and run-down face, whether intentional or unintentional, he will perhaps give a depressive impression to his wife and children and other family members to the displeasure of Allah.
Fifth, we may sympathetically allude to the minor shortcomings of a person in his absence for the sake of his moral uplifting. This will not be considered as backbiting. The Messenger of Allah talked about Khuraim Al-Usaidi :radiyallahuanhin the same spirit.
Sixth, indecency which means something ugly and disgraceful is taken here in an untidy and dishevelled sense which is against aesthetic principles.

Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri reported: The Messenger of Allah said,

 "The lower garment of a believer should be half way below the knees. He is guilty of no sin if they are up to the ankles. That which is below the ankles is in the Fire (of Hell). Allah will not look at one who allows his lower garment to trail out of vanity. [Abu Dawud].


Commentary: This Hadith says that a garment like trousers, pajamas, etc., should, properly speaking, go down up to the middle of the shanks. However, it is permissible to lower it up to the ankles which should remain uncovered. This commandment is for men alone. On the contrary, women are required to cover not only their ankles but also their feet, particularly when they go out.

Ibn `Umar (Radhi Allahu Anhuma) reported: My lower garment was trailing as I passed by The Messenger of Allah so he said,

"Raise your lower garment, Abdullah.''

I lifted it up and he told me to raise it higher. I complied with his orders and as I was still trying to find the best place (for it), one of the people asked where it should reach and he replied,

"Half way down the knees.'' [Muslim].

Ibn `Umar (Radhi Allahu Anhuma) reported: The Messenger of Allah said,  

"On the Day of Resurrection, Allah will not look at the one who trails his lower garment out of arrogance.''  

Umm Salamah asked: "What should women do with the hem of their clothes?'' He said,

"They might lower them a hand's span.''

She said: "But their feet would still remain exposed.'' He   said,

"Let them lower those equal to arm's length but not more than that.'' [Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi].


Commentary: Herein, women are commanded to cover themselves completely up to an arm's length from the hem of their clothes in order to cover the sole of their feet with their wraps and lower-body garments.