Is it permissible to perform prayers by pulling up one's trousers' legs or rolling up the sleeves of his shirt?
Dear Brother / Sister,
The following is stated in the chapter of the Makruh Acts of Prayer in item number 11 of the book called Nimat al-Islam: "It is makruh for men to leave their arms uncovered while performing a prayer." It is stated in the footnote that it is makruh to pull up one's trousers' or other garment's legs by leaving some parts of the legs uncovered. (p. 564)
It is makruh for a person to perform prayers by rolling up his sleeves up to his elbows. This also exists in Fatawa al-Qadihan. (Hindiyya)
It is stated here that what is makruh is to leave the arms uncovered and to show the skin, not rolling up the sleeves. As a matter of fact, the following is stated in the same book:
"It is makruh to perform prayers without a shirt if that person has a shirt. This is also written in Khulasa. It is also makruh to perform prayers by leaving one shoulder uncovered." (Hindiyya)
Ibn Abidin writes the following:
"It is unanimously agreed that it is makruh to roll up the sleeves up to the elbows. However, it is not unanimously agreed that it is makruh to roll up the sleeves below the elbows."
In his book called "Hadiyyatu'l-Alaiyya", Muhammed Alaaddin, the son of Ibn Abidin, uses the phrase "(for men) to leave the arms uncovered" as item 10 in the list of the makruh acts of prayer. In item 16, he uses the phrase "to pull up the bottom of the garment". When the bottom is pulled up, legs will appear. That is, what is makruh is to show the skin.
Ibrahim Haqqi of Erzurum writes the following:
"It is makruh to perform prayers by leaving the shoulders and the arms uncovered." (see Marifetname, p.268)
If the legs of the trousers are too long, it is not makruh to pull them up and perform prayers like that. Otherwise, it is makruh to roll up the legs of the trousers.
Questions on Islam
- Is it makruh for men to perform prayers in short-sleeved dresses or shirts?
- Makruhs of prayer
- How do women fold their arms and hold their hands in prayer? Do they need to clasp their hands on the wrist? Why do women perform prayers differently?
- Is it makruh (abominable) to perform prayers by wearing pajamas, a nightgown or a tracksuit?
- How is a free Muslim woman dresses when there are other people near her?
- While a woman prays, to what extent of uncovering her arms and wrists invalidate the prayer?
- Is tabarruk, expecting barakah (abundance) from things permissible?
- Is there any evidence that woman's manner of performing the Prayer is different from that of man?
- What does "it is not permissible (la yajuzu)" mean? Is it haram, makruh or something else? How binding is it? What happens if I do something that is not permissible?
- Is it permissible to perform a prostration of thanking for a woman when she is in the menstruation period?
