Pull It Up

In this article, I would like to discuss a grave sin that many people indulge in, that is, keeping the garment under the ankle.

The Prophet ﷺ is reported to have said

Whatever of the izaar (lower garment) is below the ankles is in the Fire.

– Sahih al-Bukhari ¹

There are mainly 2 reasons for this sin:

1. Misinterpretation of the texts
2. Laziness / shyness

In shaa Allāh, I will strive to explain why it is important to do this at all times, both during prayers and outside of them.

Misinterpretation of the texts

This is undoubtedly a significant issue in Islam, as well as in other religions. There are individuals who have learned the deen from their teachers but are passing down misunderstandings and incorrect ideologies to the laypeople. I was listening to a mufti ² on a television channel, where he was explaining to the audience why it’s 'okay' to wear garments below the ankle. Let me summarize his statements:

Wherever this prohibition is mentioned, it is in the context of pride and arrogance—stating that whoever keeps their garment below the ankle is in the hellfire. These aḥādīth should be understood in the context of what was common during the time of Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ. Back then, Arab leaders would drag their garments behind them as a display of arrogance and pride. The Prophet ﷺ sought to end this practice, which is why he instructed people not to wear their garments below the ankle.

The mufti also presented a ḥadīth, wherein Prophet ﷺ said to Abu Bakr :

O Abu Bakr, you are not one of those who do that to show off.

While there is no issue with the authenticity of this ḥadīth, it's important to note that Abu Bakr did not originally tie his izaar so that it hung below his ankles; he had tied it above the ankle, but it later slipped down. ³ Additionally, I will provide a stronger argument to demonstrate that this prohibition isn’t solely tied to pride or arrogance. But before we get into that, let me ask you a simple question: do we have the same assurance that we don’t do it out of pride or to show off? Do you know who Abu Bakr is? Entire books have been written about his virtues, but I will highlight just two narrations (among many) to illustrate his character .

Virtues of Abu Bakr

Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas:

“Allāh’s Apostle in his fatal illness came out with a piece of cloth tied round his head and sat on the pulpit. After thanking and praising Allāh he said, “There is no one who had done more favor to me with life and property than Abu Bakr bin Abi Quhafa. If I were to take a Khalil, I would certainly have taken Abu- Bakr but the Islamic brotherhood is superior. Close all the small doors in this mosque except that of Abu Bakr.”

– Sahih al-Bukhari ⁴

Another virtue

Narrated Abu Uthman:

Allāh’s Apostle sent ‘Amr bin Al As as the commander of the troops of Dhat-us-Salasil. ‘Amr bin Al-‘As said, “(On my return) I came to the Prophet and said, ‘Which people do you love most?’ He replied, ‘Aisha.’ I said, ‘From amongst the men?’ He replied, ‘Her father (Abu Bakr)’. I said, ‘Whom (do you love) next?’ He replied, “Umar.’ Then he counted the names of many men, and I became silent for fear that he might regard me as the last of them.”

– Sahih al-Bukhari ⁵

Evidences

Before I present the evidence, please take a moment to reflect on these ayaat from the Qurʾān and consider the fate of those who will be cast into hellfire for blindly following their scholars, even when contrary evidence was presented to them

وَقَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّآ أَطَعْنَا سَادَتَنَا وَكُبَرَآءَنَا فَأَضَلُّونَا ٱلسَّبِيلَا۠

And they will say, “Our Lord, indeed we obeyed our masters and our dignitaries, and they led us astray from the [right] way.

رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِهِمْ ضِعْفَيْنِ مِنَ ٱلْعَذَابِ وَٱلْعَنْهُمْ لَعْنًا كَبِيرًا

Our Lord, give them double the punishment and curse them with a great curse.”

– Surah al-Ahzaab ⁶

In another place, Allāh said

قَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَا مَن قَدَّمَ لَنَا هَٰذَا فَزِدْهُ عَذَابًا ضِعْفًا فِى ٱلنَّارِ

They will say, “Our Lord, whoever brought this upon us – increase for him double punishment in the Fire.”

– Surah Sad ⁷

It’s upon every single one of us to do our research and do not trust these T.V muftis who are astray and leading others astray.

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمُ ٱتَّبِعُوا۟ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ قَالُوا۟ بَلْ نَتَّبِعُ مَا وَجَدْنَا عَلَيْهِ ءَابَآءَنَآ ۚ أَوَلَوْ كَانَ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ يَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَىٰ عَذَابِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ

And when it is said to them, “Follow what Allāh has revealed,” they say, “Rather, we will follow that upon which we found our fathers.” Even if Satan was inviting them to the punishment of the Blaze?

– Surah Luqmaan ⁸

Evidence # 1

Ibn 'Umar reported: I happened to pass before Allāh's Messenger ﷺ with my lower garment trailing (upon the ground). He said: 'Abdullah, tug up your lower garment,, I tugged it up, and he again said: Tug it still further, and I tugged it still further and I went on tugging it afterward, whereupon some of the people said: To what extent? Thereupon he said: To the middle of the shanks.

– Sahih Muslim ⁹ – Kitaab al-Kabaair, Imam ad-Dhahabi

Ibn 'Umar, known for his devout worship and asceticism, was one of the most esteemed companions of the Prophet ﷺ. He was the son of one of the greatest companion, Umar Ibn al-Khattab , and the brother of our mother Hafsa , the Mother of the Believers and wife of the Prophet ﷺ.

Prophet of Allāh ﷺ said about him

Abdullah is a good man.

– Sahih al-Bukhari ¹⁰

With all that in mind, do you think Ibn 'Umar would have been walking around with pride? If not, then why did the Prophet ﷺ advise him to raise his garment? The answer is that this ruling is not solely linked to pride or arrogance; it reflects the dress code of a Muslim, signifying humility. The very act of choosing to drag one's garment below the ankle after being presented with clear evidence is, by definition, arrogance—as the Prophet ﷺ himself stated.

الْكِبْرَ مَنْ بَطَرَ الْحَقَّ وَغَمَصَ النَّاسَ

Pride is refusing the truth and belittling the people.

– Jami at-Tirmidhi (Sahih) ¹¹

Evidence # 2

The Prophet ﷺ said

There are three whom Allāh will not look at or praise on the Day of Judgement and theirs will be a painful punishment: the one who wears his garment below his ankles, the one who reminds others of his favours, and the one who sells his product by means of making false oaths”

– Sahih Muslim ¹²

Evidence # 3

The Prophet ﷺ said

Isbaal (wearing one’s garment below the ankles) may apply to the izaar (lower garment), the shirt or the turban. Whoever allows any part of these to trail on the ground out of arrogance, Allāh will not look at him on the Day of Judgement.

– Sunan Abu Dawood (Sahih) ¹³ – Sunan an-Nasai (Sahih) ¹⁴

Although the phrase 'out of arrogance' is used by the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ, scholars have explained how its application extends beyond just arrogance, as mentioned above.

Evidence # 4

Hudhayfah said

The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ took hold of the calf of my shin - or his shin - and he said: "This is the place of the Izar, if you must lower it, then the Izar has no right to be on the ankles.

– Jami at-Tirmidhi (Sahih) ¹⁵

The same argument applies to the esteemed companion Hudayfah , where no condition of pride or arrogance is mentioned. It is a direct command from the Prophet ﷺ.

Summary

I am not alone in the view I have provided; it is based on the writings of many early Islamic scholars who were more pious, knowledgeable, and righteous than we are. I am not suggesting that you should act solely based on what you read in this article, but it is important to conduct your own research and follow the commands of the Prophet ﷺ. This is the only path to true salvation.

I have also collected some of the aḥādīth on this topic, so please take a look at this public collection: Below Ankle ¹⁶

I ask Allāh to first and foremost grant me the ability to follow this commandment, and to extend that blessing to every reader. May He grant us the tawfeeq to adhere to the methodology of the righteous predecessors.