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Q & A --> Lawful and Unlawful Categories --> Ruling on Playing Sports while Wearing Shorts

Question : A question was asked about the ruling of playing sports while wearing shorts.

Fatwa in Brief: It is not permitted to expose one’s thighs while playing sports.

Shaykh Ibn al-‘Uthaymin, Fatawa Islamiyya, 431/4

Response:

According to Imam Malik (r.a.) the thigh is not part of the “‘awra” [the parts of one’s body that it is legally obligated to shield from the sight of others]. From this, we say that it permitted to play sports while wearing short pants.

Commentary:

Covering the ‘awra is compulsory for both men and women. The ‘awra of men is different to that of women. The ‘awra of a woman is every part of her body, except her hands and face. This is based on the aya in which women are instructed:

“To display of their adornment only that which is apparent”. (Q. 24: 31)

Scholars have agreed that the ‘awra of men is the genitals and anus. It it is not permitted to look at them and one’s prayers are broken, if these areas are not covered. There are different opinions about the other parts of the body, like the navel, thighs and knees, however. The majority of scholars are of the opinion that it is compulsory to cover the ‘awra based on the hadith narrated by Ahmad, al-Hakim and al-Bukhari in which the Prophet (upon him be peace) passed by Ma‘mar whose thighs were exposed, and the Prophet (upon him be peace) said: “Cover your thighs for indeed the thighs are part of the ‘awra”. In the hadith collections of Malik and At-Tirmidhi, the Prophet (upon him be peace) is also reported to said this to another man. From these reports, the majority of scholars argue that the prayers of someone who exposes their thigh are broken. According to this interpretation, the prayers of those men who wear shorts while playing sport are invalid. And the majority of scholars therefore argue that one must wear clothes that cover the ‘awra when playing sport.

If there is a need or necessity, however, it is permitted to follow the opinion which says that thighs are not part of the ‘awra. This opinion is based on a hadith, attributed to Anas in al-Bukhari, in which, on the Day of Khaibar, the Prophet (upon him be peace) raised his waist wrap (izar) up to his thighs. In so doing, he exposed them until Anas “was looking at the fairness of his thighs”. Imam Malik follows this opinion.[1]

And God knows best.

Dr. Anas Abu Shadi


[1] Shaykh ‘Atiyya Saqr, Fatawa Dar al-Ifta’ al-Misriyya, no. 173, May 1997.