concerning isbāl (letting one’s garment hang low). Isbāl takes two forms.
- A person drags his garment out of arrogance.
- He allows it to fall below the ankles without arrogance.
As for the first case—dragging one’s garment proudly—the Prophet ﷺ mentioned four punishments, and we seek refuge with Allah: Allah will not speak to him on the Day of Resurrection, He will not look at him with a look of mercy, He will not purify him, and a painful torment awaits him. Four punishments befall the one who trails his garment in pride.
When Abū Bakr heard this ḥadith he said, “Messenger of Allah, one side of my waist-wrapper sometimes slips unless I keep adjusting it; does this threat include me?” He ﷺ replied, “You are not among those who do it out of arrogance.” Thus the Prophet ﷺ affirmed that Abū Bakr did not do so out of pride. The punishment, therefore, is reserved for the one who acts out of arrogance, whereas whoever does not do so out of arrogance faces a lighter penalty.
In the ḥadith of Abū Hurayrah the Prophet ﷺ said, “Whatever is below the ankles is in the Fire,” mentioning only a single punishment. Even this penalty does not strike the whole body; it is confined to the part that committed the offense—whatever hung below the ankles. Therefore, if a person’s robe, cloak, or trousers fall beneath the ankle, then