Performing Salaah with folded sleeves and trousers

Question:-

Is it permissible to pray with folded sleeves/trousers?

Answer:-

1. Performing Salaah with one’s sleeves folded up (without a valid reason) is Makroohe-e-Tahreemi. However, if the sleeves were folded before Salaah for some work, and then one starts Salaah, there is a difference of opinion as to whether the Salaah is Makrooh or not. However, it is best that the sleeve is lowered in Salaah with minimal movement. [Re:- Ahsanul Fataawa Pg.406 Vol.3 / Fataawa Mahmoodiyyah Pg.98 Vol.11]

2. The ankles should not be covered in Salaah. If it is covered, then it should be uncovered. Hence, there is no issue folding the pants for this purpose, as the abhorrence of folding the pants is less than the abhorrence of covering the ankle.

However, the ankles should always remain uncovered, as the warnings mentioned in the Hadith Sharif for covering the ankles are severe. Also, one that allows his pants to flow below the ankles is deprived of the mercy of Allah Ta’ala on the night of Bara’at, when countless people are forgiven.

حدثنا آدم، حدثنا شعبة، حدثنا سعيد بن أبي سعيد المقبري، عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه، عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: ما أسفل من الكعبين من الإزار ففي النار(صحيح البخاري)»

حَدَّثَنِى إِسْحَاقُ أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ شُمَيْلٍ أَخْبَرَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ أَبِى زَائِدَةَ أَخْبَرَنَا عَوْنُ بْنُ أَبِى جُحَيْفَةَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ أَبِى جُحَيْفَةَ قَالَ فَرَأَيْتُ بِلاَلًا جَاءَ بِعَنَزَةٍ فَرَكَزَهَا، ثُمَّ أَقَامَ الصَّلاَةَ، فَرَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ – صلى الله عليه وسلم – خَرَجَ فِى حُلَّةٍ مُشَمِّرًا، فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ إِلَى الْعَنَزَةِ، وَرَأَيْتُ النَّاسَ وَالدَّوَابَّ يَمُرُّونَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنْ وَرَاءِ الْعَنَزَةِ (صحيح البخاري رقم 5786)

CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:

Mufti Mohammed Desai

Date: 19 Shabaan 1444 / 12 March 2023