The Jurisprudence of the Report of Abu Bakr Regarding the Looseness of His Garment

The questioner : To complete the previous discussion, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to Abu Bakr when he let his garments hang down: Do we consider them to be of this type?

The Shaykh : What did the Messenger say to Abu Bakr? The Messenger’s answer contains a reason for permitting what Abu Bakr al-Siddiq did. So that we understand that this is not a specific case, it applies to everyone to whom what Abu Bakr did applies, and the reason the Messenger gave for Abu Bakr’s action is the meaning of the speech up to this point! And if you are a scholar, you need some detail. How is it with you?

The questioner : ... .

The Shaykh : Do you not want detail?

The questioner : I do not want detail.

The Shaykh : I told you, Abu Bakr, do you remember what Abu Bakr said when he said: He said, "My garment is slipping down." So, for the one whose garment slips down, the Prophet’s saying precedes: As for the one whose garment slips down as some arrogant people do, dragging his garment, is what the Messenger said about Abu Bakr applied to him? Certainly not. So, whoever fits the description of what applied to Abu Bakr in action and in the reason his Prophet gave, this applies to all people in whom these two conditions are present. Clear, praise be to Allah.