It is permissible to offer prayer in trousers

12-6-2013 | IslamWeb

Question:

I read in an islamic book that the Prophet ( salilahu alayhi wasalam ) forbade praying in saraweel without a cloak over them. The reference is Sunan Abu Dawood hadith number 594. So is it really impermissible to pray in saraweel or did the Islamic book make a mistake?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

The Hadeeth reported in Sunan Abu Daawood does not read like so; rather, it states the prohibition of praying in Saraaweel (trousers) without having Ridaa’ which is the upper garment so that man’s shoulder may not become uncovered in prayer and that is something prohibited. The Hadeeth does not prohibit offering prayer in Saraaweel. Al-‘Atheem Abaadi said in ‘Awn Al-Ma‘bood: “(The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, prohibited) offering prayer in Saraaweel while having no Ridaa’: because one's shoulders will be exposed and they have to be covered if one is able to do so. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “None of you should pray in a single garment with nothing on his shoulders.” [Al-Bukhari]” [End quote]

As for offering prayer in trousers, it is permissible, even if they are tight though that is disliked according to some scholars.

For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 81610.

Allaah Knows best.