Islamic Guidance on Men Wearing Shorts That Reveal Knees or Thighs in Public

Narrated Abu Huraira:

I heard Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) saying. “All the sins of my followers will be forgiven except those of the Mujahirin (those who commit a sin openly or disclose their sins to the people). An example of such disclosure is that a person commits a sin at night and though Allah screens it from the public, then he comes in the morning, and says, ‘O so-and-so, I did such-and-such (evil) deed yesterday,’ though he spent his night screened by his Lord (none knowing about his sin) and in the morning he removes Allah’s screen from himself.”

It is considered haram (forbidden) and sinful for men to wear clothing that reveals their knees or thighs in public settings. This remains the case even if the weather is hot or fashion trends make such attire common. Additionally, it is impermissible to intentionally gaze at someone else’s exposed knees or thighs.

Clothing is a precious blessing from Allah, enabling people to cover their private areas, enhance their appearance, and gain other benefits. It is our responsibility to use this blessing in a way that aligns with Islamic principles and to avoid engaging in actions that Allah has prohibited. Sadly, with the rise of societal evils, Islamic guidelines are increasingly disregarded under the pretext of fashion or convenience.

Obligation for Men:

Islam clearly outlines that a man’s Ꜥawrah (private area that must be covered) extends from below the navel to the bottom of the knees. This region must be concealed from everyone except his wife. Uncovering this area without a valid Islamic reason is forbidden and results in Allah’s displeasure.

Moreover, exposing this part of the body publicly contributes to the spread of immodesty. The Holy Qur’an provides stern warnings for those who promote such indecency. When people cast lustful glances at exposed body parts, they incur sin, and the person wearing revealing clothing also bears sin for causing others to stumble.

Men should refrain from wearing clothing, such as shorts, that exposes parts of the body which Islam has commanded to be covered. May Allah grant us the strength to uphold these teachings.

Amin, for the sake of the Prophet صلَّى اللهُ عليه واٰلهٖ وسلَّم.


Quranic Teachings on Clothing and Modesty:

  1. Clothing as a Blessing for Cover and Beautification:

Allah the Almighty declares in the Quran:

“O descendants of Adam! We have indeed sent down to you clothing that covers your shame and serves as an adornment.”
— (Quran 7:26, Kanz al-Īmān translation)

  1. Lowering the Gaze and Safeguarding Modesty:

Allah also commands:

“Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their private parts; this is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is fully aware of what they do.”
— (Quran 24:30, Kanz al-Īmān translation)

In Tafsīr Ṣirāṭ al-Jinān, it is mentioned that this verse instructs Muslim men to lower their gazes from anything forbidden and to protect their private parts by keeping them covered and avoiding illicit acts.

  1. Warning Against Spreading Indecency:

Allah issues a stern warning in the Quran:

“Indeed, those who desire that indecency should spread among the believers will have a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter. Allah knows, and you do not know.”
— (Quran 24:19, Kanz al-Īmān translation)


Prophetic Guidance on the ꜤAwrah of Men:

  1. Clarification of Men’s ꜤAwrah:

The Prophet صلَّى اللهُ عليه واٰلهٖ وسلَّم stated:

“The Ꜥawrah of a man is from below his navel to [and including] his knees.”
— (Musnad Imām Aḥmad b. Ḥanbal, vol. 11, p. 369)

  1. The Importance of Covering the Thighs:

Sayyidunā Ibn ʿAbbās رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ narrates:

“The Messenger of Allah صلَّى اللهُ عليه واٰلهٖ وسلَّم passed by a man with his thigh exposed and said, ‘Cover your thigh, for indeed the thigh is part of the Ꜥawrah.’”
— (Musnad Imām Aḥmad b. Ḥanbal, vol. 4, p. 295)

Sayyidunā Jarhad رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ also reported:

“The Prophet صلَّى اللهُ عليه واٰلهٖ وسلَّم sat with us while my thigh was exposed. He said, ‘Do you not realize that the thigh is part of the Ꜥawrah?’”
— (Sunan Abī Dāwūd, vol. 4, p. 40)


Islamic Legal Opinions on the ꜤAwrah:

The well-known Ḥanafī text al-Hidāyah explains:

“A man’s Ꜥawrah is the area from below the navel to the knee.”
— (Al-Hidāyah, vol. 1, p. 45)

Muftī Amjad ʿAlī al-Aʿẓamī رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه notes:

“It is obligatory for a man to cover the area from below his navel to his knees. If a garment exposes this area, even slightly, it becomes impermissible, especially if the skin is visible through the clothing.”
— (Bahār-i-Sharīʿat, vol. 1, p. 481)


Prohibition of Gazing at the ꜤAwrah of Others:

Sayyidunā Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ narrates:

“A man should not look at the Ꜥawrah of another man, and a woman should not look at the Ꜥawrah of another woman.”
— (Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shayba, vol. 1, p. 101)

Furthermore, the Prophet صلَّى اللهُ عليه واٰلهٖ وسلَّم said:

“The curse of Allah is upon those who look at indecency and those who display it.”
— (Shuʿab al-Īmān, vol. 10, p. 214)


Bearing Responsibility for Leading Others to Sin:

The Prophet صلَّى اللهُ عليه واٰلهٖ وسلَّم also taught:

“Whoever invites others to righteousness will receive a share of the reward of those who follow him, without their reward being diminished. And whoever invites others to wrongdoing will bear a share of the sin of those who follow him, without reducing their own burden of sin.”
— (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, vol. 2, p. 341)


May Allah grant us the ability to maintain modesty and protect ourselves from actions that incur His displeasure.

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