does not nullify it. This is the principle adopted by the majority of the scholars—may Allah have mercy on them—and it is the correct rule. Had this ḥadith been authentic, it would have settled the disagreement, but it is weak. Therefore, those who deem it weak say that the prayer of the one whose garment hangs below the ankles is valid, whereas those who declare it sound say that his prayer is invalid. In any event, a person must fear Allah, Exalted is He, and must not turn His blessing into a means of incurring His wrath—Allah’s refuge is sought. Whoever challenges Allah by persisting in sin after being told, “The clothing that falls below the ankles is forbidden and counts among the major sins,” yet pays no heed, has in fact used Allah’s favor to disobey Him. We ask Allah for safety.
- Qays ibn Bishr al-Taghlibī reported: My father—who used to sit in the company of Abū al-Dardāʾ—told me that in Damascus there was a man from among the Prophet’s Companions ﷺ named Sahl ibn Ḥanẓaliyyah. He was a loner who seldom sat with people; his focus was his prayer, and when he finished he would continue with glorifications and declarations of Allah’s greatness until he reached his family. He passed by us while we were with Abū al-Dardāʾ, so Abū al-Dardāʾ said to him, “Offer a word that will benefit us and not harm you.” He replied: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ dispatched a detachment that later returned. One of its men came and sat in the seat normally occupied by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said to the man beside him, ‘If only you had seen us when we met…’”