The ruling on one who prays with his navel and the area around it exposed

Question : The questioner says: I have seen some of the people performing 'Umrah praying with their navels and the area around them exposed. Please point this out, because it is an 'awrah (part of the body that must be covered).

Answer : We thank the brother for this question, which is actually a question that includes guidance. Some people wear an izar (lower garment) that hangs down until it reveals the area below their navel. This is something a person should be careful about, and he should raise his izar so that his 'awrah is not exposed. In prayer, this is something that is necessary. As for looking at others, the scholars differed regarding the 'awrah of a man when being looked at: is it the area between the navel and the knee, or just the two buttocks? This is not the place to research this issue, but I say that what our brothers performing 'Umrah or Hajj should be careful about is their shirts, ensuring they raise them above the navel.