We heard you say that the thigh is not an awrah (part of the body that must be covered); is this correct?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh. We heard some people say that you state that the thigh is not an awrah (part of the body that must be covered)?
The Shaykh : This person says: We heard you say that the thigh is not an awrah (part of the body that must be covered). I say: Yes, I said that, and I say it now, because if it were an awrah (part of the body that must be covered), the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would not have exposed it, and he was the most modest of people.
However, regarding young men, I do not see it as permissible to expose it, because young men are a fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), and others may be tempted by them, even their companions. Therefore, it is not permissible for a young man to play football, for example, wearing only short trousers that do not reach the knee or do not reach the navel. It is necessary that the area between the navel and the knee be covered for young men.
In any case, if a worker lifts his garment to help with his work until the edge of his thigh becomes visible, we say: there is nothing wrong with that, and it is not an awrah (part of the body that must be covered).
However, in prayer, Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "It is obligatory to cover this", because the least that can be said is that it is adornment. And Allah the Exalted said:[Al-A'raf 7:31] So Shaykh al-Islam says: It is obligatory to cover what is between the navel and the knee, even if we do not say that the thigh is an awrah (part of the body that must be covered).
The Shaykh : This person says: We heard you say that the thigh is not an awrah (part of the body that must be covered). I say: Yes, I said that, and I say it now, because if it were an awrah (part of the body that must be covered), the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would not have exposed it, and he was the most modest of people.
However, regarding young men, I do not see it as permissible to expose it, because young men are a fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), and others may be tempted by them, even their companions. Therefore, it is not permissible for a young man to play football, for example, wearing only short trousers that do not reach the knee or do not reach the navel. It is necessary that the area between the navel and the knee be covered for young men.
In any case, if a worker lifts his garment to help with his work until the edge of his thigh becomes visible, we say: there is nothing wrong with that, and it is not an awrah (part of the body that must be covered).
However, in prayer, Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "It is obligatory to cover this", because the least that can be said is that it is adornment. And Allah the Exalted said: