The Ruling on Isbal Between Exaggeration and Negligence
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
There are some aware young people who become extreme about matters that may be shocking to weak young people who are in dire need of guidance. Among these matters is that they shorten their garments to a degree that may amount to extremism?
Answer:
These are minor issues and light matters. The important thing is that they should beware of isbal. If the garment is from the middle of the shin to the ankle, all of this is permissible. Its upper limit is the middle of the shin, as stated in the hadith regarding the belt of the believer, and the lower limit is the ankle; it should not go below the ankle.
As long as the garment is from the middle of the shin to the ankle, there is no blame in that, and it is not befitting to blame it; rather, this is a place of permissibility from the middle to the ankle. It is not permissible for it to go below the ankles, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: and he threatened those who let their garments hang down, saying: [Al-Baqarah 2:174].
Therefore, isbal below the ankle is not permissible, and there is no harm in it being above the ankles from the middle of the shin; this is its place. It is not befitting to be extreme in this, nor to be overly strict in this; rather, tolerance is befitting in this, and not blaming the one who raises it to the middle of the shin, and not blaming the one who lowers it to the ankle; neither this nor that.
Question : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh. Regarding the hadith, did the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) order the Companion to repeat the ablution?
Answer: This is regarding isbal. There is a hadith about it that is weak, and there is another hadith that indicates the correctness of the meaning. However, the intended meaning of that is warning against isbal, and it does not mean that you repeat the prayer. The Prophet ordered them to repeat the ablution as a form of strictness and warning, and he did not order them to make up the prayer and repeat it—(peace and blessings be upon him). The scholars said: The intended meaning of this warning against isbal is that it is an ugly thing from which one should beware of engaging in it, especially in prayer.
Question : If there is a tailor, and then a man comes to him and stipulates that he make it below the ankles?
Answer: The tailor learns, and one blames the tailor. He does not lengthen it below the ankles for them unless the intention is that he raises it below the ankles, and then he raises it when he washes it; because some garments, when washed, get rolled up and rise. If there is isbal in it, let it hang loose so that it is appropriate afterwards. If the intention is like this, there is no harm, ... then he raises it. If it needs to be let loose, he lets it loose; on the condition that it does not go below the ankle.
There are some aware young people who become extreme about matters that may be shocking to weak young people who are in dire need of guidance. Among these matters is that they shorten their garments to a degree that may amount to extremism?
Answer:
These are minor issues and light matters. The important thing is that they should beware of isbal. If the garment is from the middle of the shin to the ankle, all of this is permissible. Its upper limit is the middle of the shin, as stated in the hadith regarding the belt of the believer, and the lower limit is the ankle; it should not go below the ankle.
As long as the garment is from the middle of the shin to the ankle, there is no blame in that, and it is not befitting to blame it; rather, this is a place of permissibility from the middle to the ankle. It is not permissible for it to go below the ankles, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
What is below the ankles of the garment is in the Fire
ما أسفل الكعبين من الإزار فهو في النارnor will He purify them. And they will have a painful punishment.
لا يكلمهم الله ولا يزكيهم ولهم عذاب أليمTherefore, isbal below the ankle is not permissible, and there is no harm in it being above the ankles from the middle of the shin; this is its place. It is not befitting to be extreme in this, nor to be overly strict in this; rather, tolerance is befitting in this, and not blaming the one who raises it to the middle of the shin, and not blaming the one who lowers it to the ankle; neither this nor that.
Question : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh. Regarding the hadith, did the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) order the Companion to repeat the ablution?
Answer: This is regarding isbal. There is a hadith about it that is weak, and there is another hadith that indicates the correctness of the meaning. However, the intended meaning of that is warning against isbal, and it does not mean that you repeat the prayer. The Prophet ordered them to repeat the ablution as a form of strictness and warning, and he did not order them to make up the prayer and repeat it—(peace and blessings be upon him). The scholars said: The intended meaning of this warning against isbal is that it is an ugly thing from which one should beware of engaging in it, especially in prayer.
Question : If there is a tailor, and then a man comes to him and stipulates that he make it below the ankles?
Answer: The tailor learns, and one blames the tailor. He does not lengthen it below the ankles for them unless the intention is that he raises it below the ankles, and then he raises it when he washes it; because some garments, when washed, get rolled up and rise. If there is isbal in it, let it hang loose so that it is appropriate afterwards. If the intention is like this, there is no harm, ... then he raises it. If it needs to be let loose, he lets it loose; on the condition that it does not go below the ankle.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.