The Ruling on Covering the Thighs of the Adult and the Child

Question:
The statement of the scholar Ibn al-Qayyim: “The awrah (part of the body that must be covered) is of two types: a major awrah and a minor awrah. Are the thighs a minor awrah?”


Answer:
There is no doubt that the awrah, meaning the front and back private parts, is a major awrah, but the thigh is its protected area; the thigh is the protected area of the major awrah.
The correct view is that it is an awrah, and the three hadiths support one another: the hadith of Muhammad ibn Jahsh, the hadith of Jarhad, and the hadith of Ibn Abbas. They support one another, so they abrogate what occurred from him (peace and blessings be upon him).
Q: What about the one who wears short trousers, with a transparent garment over them?
The Shaykh: This is not permissible; it is obligatory to cover the thighs.
Q: Does the boy cover his thigh?
The Shaykh: When he reaches puberty. However, covering it when he is ten years old or thereabouts is more cautious and better, and further from fitnah (trial, discord or temptation).