What is the ruling on wearing trousers that do not extend past the knee?

The questioner : O Shaykh, what is the ruling on one who wears trousers that do not go past the knee?

The Shaykh : Trousers?

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : Is it a man or a woman?

The questioner : A man.

The Shaykh : Does he not wear them, meaning: is he among a people who wear trousers?
If that is the case, there is nothing wrong with it if it covers down to the knee. But if he is among people who do not wear them, he should not wear them, because if he wears them, it becomes a garment of showing off, and the garment of showing off is forbidden. Leave the trousers, my son. This shirt of yours is more covering and more comfortable for you. The trousers restrict you; if you prostrate, they tire you, and if you prostrate, they tire you. Then what is the benefit of them?
Yes, the one who has work with machines or the like, who needs his clothes to be tight to his body, these people may be excused. But as for the rest of the people, glory be to Allah, we leave our clothing, which is closer to ease of movement and is the clothing of our fathers and grandfathers, for new clothing. This is difficult.
And know that imitating non-Muslims has an effect on the heart. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Complete the hadith, my son?
Complete the hadith: , keep it in your mind, do not let it slip away.
The scholars said: Because if he imitates them in appearance, he becomes accustomed to their morals and their clothing, then his heart loves them, then he imitates them in creed, and may Allah protect us from that. For this reason, he said: "He is one of them." We do not say "he is one of them" in the sense of the one he imitated; we say: he is one of them in what he imitated, and it is feared that this germ will transfer to the creed.