Is it a sin for a man to walk around with his upper body exposed?

Is it permissible for a man to be in public wearing clothing that covers only the area between his navel and knees, leaving his chest, abdomen, and the area above his navel exposed?

Dear Brother / Sister,

It is not forbidden in terms of fiqh for a man to wear clothing that covers the area between his navel and knees, leaving his chest, abdomen, or shoulders exposed because, according to the majority of Islamic scholars, a man’s awrah parts are between his navel and knees. By covering this area, a man fulfills the obligation of covering his awrah parts.

As a matter of fact, the Prophet (pbuh) said the following regarding men:

“The area between the navel and the knee is awrah.” (Abu Dawud, “Libas”, 37; Bayhaqi, as-Sunanul-Kubra, 2/229)

Accordingly, the chest, shoulders, and abdomen of a man are not considered part of his awrah. Therefore, exposure of these areas is not considered haram in itself.

However, in Islam, the issue of clothing is not limited to covering awrah parts. A Muslim’s attire should also consider modesty, dignity, decency, and maintaining respectability within society. Therefore, scholars deem it inappropriate for a person to dress in a way that is attention-grabbing, frowned upon, or damaging to his character, even if his awrah parts are covered.

It would be more appropriate to avoid such a style of dress, especially if it is frowned upon in the community, causes discomfort among people, or leads to misunderstandings.

On the other hand, there are reports that the Prophet (pbuh) and his Companions occasionally had their upper bodies exposed. For example, men’s shoulders being exposed while in ihram, or the upper body being exposed under certain working or travel conditions, are examples of it. This indicates that the chest and abdominal areas are not considered awrah for men.

However, some scholars, particularly in Shafi’i madhhab, deem it inappropriate for a man to expose his abdomen, back, or upper body in the presence of non-mahram women unless absolutely necessary, considering the potential for mischief and misunderstanding. Similarly, one should avoid doing so in situations where it might provoke lust or inappropriate gazes from the other party.

What is essential in a Muslim’s attire is not merely to meet the minimum requirements, but also to embody a sense of modesty and dignity that pleases Allah. Dressing with the intent to attract attention, show off, or display an inappropriate appearance is incompatible with Islamic ethics.

Dressing is also a natural part of human nature. By nature, people protect their bodies, preserve their beauty, and appropriately reflect the value given to them. Covering oneself is not the sole measure of a person’s worth; however, it is an important element that helps preserve modesty, decency, and personal dignity.

In conclusion, for a man, covering the area between his navel and the knee is sufficient, in terms of fiqh, to fulfill the obligation to cover awrah. Leaving his chest, shoulders, or abdomen exposed is not haram in itself. However, in accordance with the principles of modesty, dignity, social norms, and avoiding mischief, it is more appropriate and virtuous not to leave the upper body exposed unless necessary.

Questions on Islam