The Ruling on Wearing Trousers in Prayer and at the University

The questioner : However, there remains a single issue regarding wearing trousers, which may arise specifically with wearing the dishdashah, particularly in universities or colleges, as a general principle.

The Shaykh : Yes, indeed.

The questioner : Did you hear the ruling on praying in large buildings?

The Shaykh : I think, my brother, if we assume that there is a problem, but there is no problem in this world that cannot be solved by thinking about how to address it. First, I say that if you want to pray the tarawih, or you want to pray the 'Isha' and the tarawih, there is no university here and no one is forcing you to wear trousers. So, leave the trousers for the university, and there is a solution for the university as will be explained later. So, leave the trousers for the place where they belong, or for those who wear trousers. As for prayer, if you want to pray, for example, on Friday, or you want to pray the tarawih, and so on, there is no excuse for you to wear trousers. Therefore, you can wear the shirt, or the dishdashah, or the qalabiyyah. This is for the prayer you perform in the mosque; there is absolutely no excuse for a Muslim to pray in the mosques while wearing trousers. As for the university, I think that if one of you wears over the trousers— I do not know what to call it, the long jacket, what do you call it?

The questioner : Approximately how long?

The Shaykh : The cape. This cape covers the two buttocks when one of you prays, bows, and prostrates, and I think the university does not prevent this, because this is part of the doctors' attire. So, this is the solution.

The presenter : May Allah bless you.