How to reconcile the statement of 'Umar: "Lift your garment, for it is more mindful of your Lord and cleaner for your garment," with the hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding the long garments of women?
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The questioner : The apparent contradiction that may occur for some people is between the statement of 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) to one of the worshippers: "Lift your garment, for it is more mindful of your Lord and cleaner for your garment", and the statement of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), or the command of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) to the believing women to let their garments trail, where they said: "Then they will become impure," or to that effect, so he said: How is it, my Shaykh, here, the statement of 'Umar: "more mindful of your Lord and cleaner for your garment", and the statement of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him)?
The Shaykh : Do you understand what you are saying? Did 'Umar say this about a man or a woman?
The questioner : About a man.
The Shaykh : Okay, and is the hadith about a woman or a man?
The questioner : The hadith is about a woman.
The Shaykh : Okay, so where is the contradiction?
The questioner : No, my intention, Shaykh, is the story of the impurity that might reach the garment?
The Shaykh : The hadith, 'Umar's hadith contains "more mindful" and "cleaner." So, "cleaner" relates to physical impurity, and "more mindful" relates to spiritual impurity. So, which impurity do you mean?
The questioner : Spiritual impurity.
The Shaykh : You do not mean physical impurity.
The questioner : Physical impurity.
The Shaykh : Okay, physical impurity is purified by what comes after it, regarding the long garment whose use is permissible by the Shari'ah. As for the man, it is not permissible for him to use a long garment, because he will be in the Fire even if he does not become physically impure. Is that clear?
The questioner : It is clear.
The Shaykh : If Allah wills.
What comes after it purifies it
يطهره الذي بعدهThe Shaykh : Do you understand what you are saying? Did 'Umar say this about a man or a woman?
The questioner : About a man.
The Shaykh : Okay, and is the hadith about a woman or a man?
The questioner : The hadith is about a woman.
The Shaykh : Okay, so where is the contradiction?
The questioner : No, my intention, Shaykh, is the story of the impurity that might reach the garment?
The Shaykh : The hadith, 'Umar's hadith contains "more mindful" and "cleaner." So, "cleaner" relates to physical impurity, and "more mindful" relates to spiritual impurity. So, which impurity do you mean?
The questioner : Spiritual impurity.
The Shaykh : You do not mean physical impurity.
The questioner : Physical impurity.
The Shaykh : Okay, physical impurity is purified by what comes after it, regarding the long garment whose use is permissible by the Shari'ah. As for the man, it is not permissible for him to use a long garment, because he will be in the Fire even if he does not become physically impure. Is that clear?
The questioner : It is clear.
The Shaykh : If Allah wills.