What is the ruling on one who says it is permissible to drag one's garment without arrogance, citing the action of Abu Bakr as evidence?
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The questioner : O Shaykh, may Allah reward you. Some people cite the permissibility of isbal (letting a garment hang below the ankles) if it is not done out of arrogance, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to Abu Bakr: Mishkat al-Masabih 4369 How do we respond to them?
The Shaykh : Yes, we respond to them by saying that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: and he said: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1731Sahih (Darussalam) This is the case.
Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said:Sahih al-Bukhari 5784 It slips down on me unintentionally, and yet I keep checking it. So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sunan an-Nasa'i 5335Sahih (Darussalam) So we tell the man: If your situation is like the situation of Abu Bakr, where you do not intend for the garment to hang below the ankles, but it merely slips down on you and you lift it up, and if the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) testifies for you that you do not do this out of arrogance, then it is upon your eyes and head (a blessing). But how can he attain that?!
This and those like him who argue with falsehood to refute the truth, they bring forth the ambiguous and leave the clear, like the one who is told: "O so-and-so, this buying and selling that you practice is not permissible, ask the scholars," and he says:[Al-Ma'idah 5:101] This, and may Allah protect us, is applying the verse in a place where it does not belong. The verse was revealed in the time of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) when they used to ask about things that were not forbidden, so they were forbidden because of their question, or things that were not obligatory, so they became obligatory because of their question. This is what the verse was revealed regarding. As for now, it is obligatory for every person who is told that something is obligatory or that something is forbidden to ask and verify. In this case, he is not excused by ignorance. That is to say, if he, for example, later neglects an obligation or commits a forbidden act, and he had been warned but he was negligent, then he is not excused by his ignorance, and that is because of his negligence in not asking. Do you understand?
The questioner: Do you understand?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Good, praise be to Allah.
You are not one of those who do it arrogantly.
إنك لست ممن يفعله خيلاءThe Shaykh : Yes, we respond to them by saying that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
What is below the ankles is in the Fire
ما أسفل الكعبين ففي النارWhoever arrogantly drags his garment, Allah will not look at him
من جر ثوبه خيلاء لم ينظر الله إليهAbu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! One side of my Izar hangs low if I do not take care of it.
يا رسول الله إن أحد شقي إزاري يسترخي عليَّ إلا أن أتعاهدهYou are not one of those who do that out of pride.
إنك لست ممن يصنع ذلك خيلاءThis and those like him who argue with falsehood to refute the truth, they bring forth the ambiguous and leave the clear, like the one who is told: "O so-and-so, this buying and selling that you practice is not permissible, ask the scholars," and he says:
O you who have believed, do not ask about things which, if they are shown to you, will distress you
يا أيها الذين آمنوا لا تسألوا عن أشياء إن تبد لكم تسؤكمThe questioner: Do you understand?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Good, praise be to Allah.