Sunday, January 8, 2012

Fatwa of Ibn Baaz رحمه الله on Isbaal


بـسـم الله والحـمـد لله والـصلاة والـسـلام عــلى رسـول الله، وبـعـد

Q: What is the ruling on those who say that shaving the beard and making one's garment shorter are marginal matters, not fundamentals? What about those who laugh at those who observe these things?

A: This is a serious declaration and a grievous mistake. There are no marginal issues in Islaam. Rather, the whole religion is essential and guides to the best way. However, the religious principles are divided into fundamental and details. The issues of growing the beard and shortening the garment come under the details, not the fundamentals. However, it is not permissible to call any of the issues of religion marginal. A person who says such a thing by way of belittling or mocking may be apostatizing from his religion. Allaah تعالى says: {Say: “Was it at Allaah (عز وجل), and His Ayaat (proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, signs, revelations) and His Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) that you were mocking?” Make no excuse; you disbelieved after you had believed.}

The Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم is the one who commanded that the beard should be left to grow and to trim the mustache. It is essential to obey him and abide venerably by his commands and prohibitions in all matters.

Moreover, Abu Muhammad Ibn Hazm narrated that the scholars hold consensus on the ordinance of letting the beard grow and trimming the mustache. Undoubtedly, happiness, salvation, pride, honor, and good consequences lie in obeying Allaah تعالى and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم; while doom, loss, and bad consequences lie in disobeying Allaah عز وجل and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم. Similarly, wearing one’s clothes above the ankles is obligatory because of the words of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم“Whatever part of the lower garment hangs below the ankles is in the Fire.” (Related by Al-Bukhaaree in his Saheeh) And he صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “There are three to whom Allaah will not speak on the Day of Resurrection, nor even look at them, or praise them, and theirs will be a painful torment: the one who lets his lower garment hang below his ankles; the one who reminds others of things he has given to them; and the one who sells his product by means of false oaths.”  (Related by Muslim in his Saheeh).

He صلى الله عليه وسلم said:  “Allaah will not look at the one who lets his garment drag out of pride.”  (Agreed upon by Al-Bukhari and Muslim) Therefore, it is the duty of a Muslim to fear Allaah عز وجل and shorten his garment above the ankles, whether it is a jalaabiyah (thaoub), an izaar (lower garment, waist-wrapper), pants, or a cloak. He should not let it come down below his ankles.

It is better for the clothing to be at the middle of the calf. If the isbaal (letting the garment hang below the ankles) is done because of pride or arrogance, the sin is more serious and if it is done carelessly without pride, it is still an evil action and the one who does it is sinful, according to the correct scholarly view. However, his sin is less serious than the sin of one who does it out of pride. Undoubtedly, isbaal is a means to arrogance even if the one who does it may claim otherwise. Indeed, the warning in the Hadeeth is general, so it is not permissible to take this matter lightly.

With regard to the story of (Abu Bakr) Al-Siddeeq رضي الله عنه when he said to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم: “My izaar slips down unless I pay attention to it”. In reply, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said to him: “You are not one of those who do it out of arrogance”, this applies to those whose case is like that of Al-Siddeeq with regard to their garment that may slip down while he is free of arrogance and he tries to hold it. As for those who deliberately let their garment drag, this warning applies to them but not to people like Al-Siddeeq.

In addition to the warning mentioned above, isbaal is also a kind of extravagance. It also exposes the garment to dirt and impurities. Moreover, it is imitation of women. Thus, the Muslim should protect himself from that. Allaah is the Source of strength and the Guide to the straight path.

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