GARBS

OF

FIRE

http://www.al-miftah.com/2012/12/05/grabs-of-fire/ Once while Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) was walking through the streets of Madinah, He noticed a Sahabi (r.a.) whose pants were below his ankles. Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) advised him to raise his garments. Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) also said: Am I not an example to you? (Shamaail Tirmizi,#120 ; Fathul Baari, vol.10 pg.216) Among those individuals whom Almighty Allah will not speak to on the day of Qiyamah, neither will He look with mercy towards them nor purify them of their sins, instead He will afflict them with a painful punishment: is that person who allows his pants to overlap his ankles. (Recorded by Imaam Muslim Hadith:289- on the authority of Sayyiduna Abu Zhar (r.a.)) The practice of lowering the upper garments over the ankles is absolutely detestable in the Shariah under all circumstances. (Faidhul Baari vol.4 pg.373) It is Makruh Tahrimi to perform Salaah in this condition. (Fataawa Mahmudiyyah, vol.17 pg.285) Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: Certainly Allah does not accept the Salaah of one who allows his pants over his ankles (Sunan Abi Dawud #638) The Sahabah (r.a.) were so particular regarding this that Sayyiduna Umar (r.a.), while on his death bed after being stabbed- had noticed a young person in his presence whose pants were below his ankles, despite his ill condition, he reprimanded him for that. (Sahih Bukhari #3700) Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (r.a.) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: That part of (the leg which is covered by) a trouser that overlaps the ankles will be in the Fire of Jahannum. (Sahih Bukhari #5787) Moulana Ashraf Al Thanwi (r.a.) states that this prohibition has two aspects: 1) The actual deed of lowering the garment over the ankle. 2) Doing this out of pride. Therefore the one who does not do so out of pride is still guilty of the former aspect. (Imdaadul Fataawa, vol.4 pg.122) Haafiz Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani (r.a.) the renown commentator of Sahih Bukhari- has cited four reasons for this prohibition of Shariah: a)Israaf (wastage) and this is forbidden by the Quraan. b) Resemblance to women because Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) had only permitted women to allow a portion of their upper garments over their ankles. Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has cursed those men who imitate women and those women that imitate men. (Sahih Bukhari #5885) c) The inevitability of the pants becoming soiled with impurities while being dragged on the ground or trampled by the shoes. This is borne out of the fact that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) , upon seeing a companions garment overlapping the ankles, said: Raise your cloth, for it is certainly a cleaner practice. (Shamaail Tirmizi ; Fathul Baari vol.10 pg.216) d) It denotes pride. The Illustrious Maaliki Scholar: Haafiz Ibnul Arabi (r.a.) states: It is impermissible for an individual to lower his clothing over his ankles and claim that he does not do so out of pride This claim of his is unacceptable. Instead this practice in itself is a sign of him having pride! (Fathul Baari vol.10 pg.217) Haafiz Ibn Hajar (r.a.) further comments: The lowering of the clothing (over the ankles) is by nature such that it causes pride even though the individual did not intend so at the outset. This is substantiated by the following Hadith narrated by Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (r.a.) that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said -as part of a lengthy narration- : Be careful of dragging your pants, for this is an act of pride in itself. Haafiz ibn Hajar (r.a.) has also quoted a narration recorded by Imaams Nasaaie (r.a.), Ibn Majah (r.a.) and Ibn Hibbaan (r.a.) on the authority of Sayyiduna Mugheerah bin Shubah (r.a.) that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: Do not commit Isbaal (lowering of garments over the ankles) for verily Allah does not love those who do so. (Fathul Baari, vol.10 pg.217) The Respected Moulana Badre Aalam Meerthi (r.a.), a renowned student of Imaam ul Asr, Moulana Anwar Shah al Kashmiri (r.a.) has mentioned in his footnotes on Faidhul Baari (which is a compilation of the lessons of Moulana Anwar Shah Al Kashmiri (r.a.) on Sahih Bukhari) that those who drag their upper garments generally do so out of pride. And even if one claims not to have pride, definitely sooner or later pride will enter his heart. This is so because many a times ones

outer condition has an affect on ones inner self. For example, names that have a good meaning tend to have a good effect on a person and vise versa. Therefore since this action of lowering the garments over the ankles was, and still is the practice of the proud and haughty ones, its effect will certainly be found in those who initially didnt have pride. (Footnotes on Faidhul Baari, vol.4 pg.374) In the light of this, a fifth reason for its prohibition would be: resembling the proud and arrogant ones. (Fataawa Mahmudiyyah) Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: Whoever resembles a nation is regarded as one of them. (Sunan Abi Dawud #4027) May Almighty Allah guide us towards the truth and to practicing the truth and may He save us from this very subtle disease of pride regarding which our beloved Rasul (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) warned: Never will he enter Jannah in whose heart exists pride equal to even a mustard seed. (Sahih Muslim #261-263) This action may seem simple, but by adopting it, we would go a long way in our endeavor of following the blessed Sunnah of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) .