HIKE THEM UP BROTHERS!

HIKE THEM UP BROTHERS!

Sent by: Br. Asif Naqshbandi

Issues like, imitating the Kuffaar (non-Muslims), following the worldly desires, etc, have led today’s Muslims a life which is not in conformity to the teachings of their Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam). Sometimes this lifestyle is in total contrast to it, rather against it. One of them is discussed here.

Many Ahaadeeth (Sayings and Traditions) are reported from the Prophet of Islam, Hadhrat Muhammad (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) which forbid Isbaal in dressings (a term that describes wearing one’s clothes below the ankles).

It is reported through Hadhrat Abu Hurairah that the Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) has said:

»مَا أَسْفَلَ مِنَ الْكَعْبَيْنِ مِنَ الإِزَارِ فَفِي النَّارِ ‏«‏‏.‏

“Whatever of the Izaar (lower garment) is below the ankles is in the Fire.” (Bukhari)

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Zarr that Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa)’s Messenger (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) said:

»‏ثَلاَثَةٌ لاَ يُكَلِّمُهُمُ اللَّهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَلاَ يَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ يُزَكِّيهِمْ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ ‏«‏‏.‏

“Three are the (persons) with whom Allah would neither speak on the Day of Resurrection, nor would look at them nor would absolve the and there is a painful chastisement for them.”

Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa)’s Messenger (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) repeated it three times. Hadhrat Abu Zarr remarked:

»خَابُوا وَخَسِرُوا مَنْ هُمْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ‏ «

“They failed and they lost; who are these persons, O Messenger of Allah?”

The Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) observed:

‏«الْمُسْبِلُ وَالْمَنَّانُ وَالْمُنَفِّقُ سِلْعَتَهُ بِالْحَلِفِ الْكَاذِبِ»

“They are: the dragger of lower garment, the re-counter of obligation and the seller of goods by false oath. (Muslim)

Hadhrat Ibne ‘Abbas reported that the Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) said:

»إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لاَ يَنْظُرُ إِلَى مُسْبِلِ الإِزَارِ ‏«‏ ‏.‏

“Allah will not look at the one who wears his lower garment below his ankles.” (An-Nasaaee, no. 5334)

Narrated Huzaifah that Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa)’s Messenger (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) took hold of the calf of my shin – or his shin – and he said:

»‏هَذَا مَوْضِعُ الإِزَارِ فَإِنْ أَبَيْتَ فَأَسْفَلُ فَإِنْ أَبَيْتَ فَلاَ حَقَّ لِلإِزَارِ فِي الْكَعْبَيْنِ ‏« ‏

"This is the place of the Izaar, if you must lower it, then the Izaar has no right to be on the ankles.” (At-Tirmizi)

All of the Ahaadeeth quoted above speak against Isbaal, whether or not the intention is to show off; but if a person does this deliberately out of arrogance, there is no doubt that his sin is greater. Hadhrat Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) said:

» لاَ يَنْظُرُ اللَّهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِلَى مَنْ جَرَّ إِزَارَهُ بَطَرًا «‏‏.‏

“Allah will not look at the one who trails his Izaar on the ground out of pride.” (Bukhari)

Hadhrat Jabir ibne Sulaym reported that Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa)’s Messenger (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) said to me:

»وارفع إزارك إلى نصف الساق، فإن أبيت فإلى الكعبين، وإياك وإسبال الإزار فإنها من المخيلة وإن الله لا يحب المخيلة«،

“…….Hold up your lower garment half way to the leg, and at least above the ankles; for trailing it is arrogance, and Allah dislikes pride….” (At-Tirmizi)

No one is able to be completely free of pride and arrogance, even if he claims that this is so. Such a claim is unacceptable, because by saying it, he is praising himself. Only in the case of those whom the Wahy (Revelation) testified that they were free of pride do we believe that this is the case.

What indicates that Isbaal is prohibited even if it is not done out of pride is the Hadeeth of Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri, who reported that Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa)’s Messenger (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) said:

» إِزْرَةُ الْمُسْلِمِ إِلَى نِصْفِ السَّاقِ وَلاَ حَرَجَ – أَوْ لاَ جُنَاحَ – فِيمَا بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ الْكَعْبَيْنِ مَا كَانَ أَسْفَلَ مِنَ الْكَعْبَيْنِ فَهُوَ فِي النَّارِ مَنْ جَرَّ إِزَارَهُ بَطَرًا لَمْ يَنْظُرِ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ ‏«‏ ‏.

“The lower garment of the Muslim should come down to mid-calf, but there is nothing wrong if it is between that point and the ankles. Whatever is lower than the ankles is in the Fire. Whoever trails his garment on the ground out of pride, Allah will not look at him.” (Abu Daawood)

These Ahaadeeth describe two different deeds, for which there will be two different punishments: Imam Ahmad reported that once someone enquired about Izaar (lower garment) from Hadhrat Abu Sa’eed Khudri.

He informed that he heard Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa)’s Messenger (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) saying: “The Izaar of the believer should come to mid-calf, although there is nothing wrong if it comes between there and the ankles, but whatever is lower than the ankles is in the Fire. And whoever trail his Izaar on earth in arrogance, Allah will not look towards him mercifully.” (Musnad Ahmed)

Hadhrat Ibne ‘Umar said that he passed by Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa)’s Messenger (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) and his Izaar had slipped down.

The Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) said:

»‏ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ ارْفَعْ إِزَارَكَ ‏«

“O ‘Abdullah! Pull up your Izaar!”

So he pulled it up.

The Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) said:

‏ زِدْ ‏ ‏.‏‏

“More!”

So he pulled it up more, and always made sure it was pulled up properly after that.

Some people asked:‏ “To where did you pull it up?”

He replied:

‏» أَنْصَافِ السَّاقَيْنِ« ‏.‏

“To mid-calf length.” (Muslim)

The punishment for showing off may come to pass in this world, not in the Aakhirah (Hereafter). Hadhrat Abu Hurairah reported that Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa)’s Messenger (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) said:

»‏ بَيْنَمَا رَجُلٌ يَتَبَخْتَرُ يَمْشِي فِي بُرْدَيْهِ قَدْ أَعْجَبَتْهُ نَفْسُهُ فَخَسَفَ اللَّهُ بِهِ الأَرْضَ فَهُوَ يَتَجَلْجَلُ فِيهَا إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ ‏«‏ ‏.‏

“There was a person who walked with pride because of his (fine) mantles and well pleased with his personality. Allah made him sink in the earth and he would go on sinking in that until the Day of Resurrection.” (Muslim)