Ruling on the Salah of a Musbil, particularly if he is an imam

Q: What is the ruling on the Salah (Prayer) of a Musbil (one who lengthens and trails clothing below the ankles) particularly if he is an Imam? Is it reprehensible or invalid? If your eminence view it to be reprehensible, what do you say about the last part of the Prophet Muhammad's (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) Hadith as recorded by Abu Dawud concerning which Al-Nawawy said in (Riyad Al-Salihin): its Isnad (chain of narrators) is Sahih according to the conditions of Imam Muslim: This Hadith also points out that Allah, Exalted is His Mention, does not accept the Salah (Prayer) of a Musbil (one who lengthens and trails clothing below the ankles),? Does this clearly render the Salah of the Mosbil as null and void, as one of the students asserted to us? We would like to draw the attention of your eminence to the urgency of answering this question, since this matter causes huge dissension among us in Egypt. Many of us are totally disturbed by ignorance about this question, and so I hope that your Eminence provide us with the correct view concerning it. May Allah reward you with the best!

A: Isbal (lengthening and trailing clothing below the ankles) of one's clothes below the ankles is Muharram (prohibited), regardless of the clothes being a garment or trousers or any other thing. There is severe punishment for him who is Musbil (one who lengthens and trails clothing below the ankles), and this is clarified in the statement of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): The part of an Izar which dangles below the ankles (causes the person wearing it to be) in the Fire recorded by Al-Bukhari, and Imam Ahmad, and others. Also, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: There are three types of people whom Allah will neither address on the Day of Resurrection, look at (with compassion), nor purify (them of their sins), and they will be tormented severely. They are: One who trails his Izar (garment worn below the waist), one who boasts of his kindness to another, and one who promotes their business by false oaths. Recorded by Imam Muslim and Ahmad Al-Nasa'y. Whoever prays and is (Part No. 7; Page No. 202) a Musbil (one who lengthens and trails clothing below the ankles) of his clothes below the ankles, his prayer will be valid as such if he fulfilled its conditions, pillars and requested rites. But he is sinful and liable to be punished for his Isbal (lengthening and trailing clothing below the ankles). As for the mentioned Hadith in the question, it has been narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) with the following wording: A man was offering Salah (Prayer) while in the state of Isbal (lengthening and trailing clothing below the ankles), the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to him, "Go and perform Wudu' (ablution)." He performed Wudu' and returned. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) told him again, "Go and perform Wudu'." He performed Wudu' again and returned. Another man asked, 'O Messenger of Allah! Why did you command him to perform Wudu' (twice), and then you said nothing?' He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, 'He was offering Salah while in the state of Isbal and Allah does not accept the Salah of a Musbil (one who lengthens and trails clothing below the ankles). However, this Hadith is not Sahih, Al-Nawawy was under Wahm (illusion) (may Allah be merciful to him) when ranking it as Sahih (authentic), but in fact it is Da`if (a Hadith that fails to reach the status of Hasan, due to a weakness in the chain of narration or one of the narrators), since its Isnad contains an unknown person and a Mudallis (a Hadith narrator who provides misleading information about his shaykh or the chain of narration) who cited no Sanad. In case of assuming the soundness of its content, the commandment of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in this Hadith to the Musbil (one who lengthens and trails clothing below the ankles) to repeat ablution was for correcting him and drawing his attention to impermissibility of Isbal (lengthening and trailing clothing below the ankles) so that he may realize the gravity and reprehension of what he has done. This will eschew such a sin and his purity will become complete inwardly and outwardly. Isbal (lengthening and trailing clothing below the ankles) is thought to be the manifestation and cause of arrogance and conceitedness. The outward purity affects the inward one. The commandment of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) to perform Wudu' was to be the cause of forgiving the sin resulting in the wrath of Allah and the rejection of his prayers. Wudu' expiates for sins and completely removes them and eradicates their causes, in the same way as Wudu' extinguishes anger. The evidence for this is the narration of `Aly ibn Abu Talib on the authority of Abu Bakr (Part No. 7; Page No. 203) (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: There is no person who commits a sin then performs Wudu' (ablution) and offers two Rak`ahs (two units of Prayer) asking Allah (Exalted be He) for forgiveness, but Allah will forgive them. This Hadith is narrated by Imam Ahmad and the compilers of books of Traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) with a Sahih chain of narrators. As for the statement attributed to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in the early Hadith that: Allah does not accept the Salah of a Musbil (one who lengthens and trails clothing below the ankles). This is an obvious threat and disapproval which implies prevention and deterrence as interpreted metaphorically. Salah (Prayer) is valid for him and he has fulfilled its obligation, though he has offered it while being a Musbil (one who lengthens and trails clothing below the ankles). The Salah (Prayer) as such is valid as mentioned before, although it might be unacceptable in the Sight of Allah. The evidence for this is the narration of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: O mankind! Allah is Good and accepts only that which is good. The Hadith is recorded by Imam Muslim in his Sahih (authentic collection of Hadith) and Imam Ahmad in his Musnad (Hadith compilation). Since Isbal (lengthening and trailing clothing below the ankles) is thought to be the manifestation and cause of arrogance and conceitedness and this conflicts with the Islamic principle of humbleness and submission to Allah, it became likely for the Musbil (one who lengthens and trails clothing below the ankles) that Allah would not accept his prayer. Allah accepts the deeds of only humble and submissive servants. The more humbleness, submissiveness, supplication and turning away from sin a person is inclined to, the more acceptable to Allah his deeds become. Allah, the Most Exalted, says: Verily, Allâh accepts only from those who are Al-Muttaqûn (the pious). Hence, every Muslim man should rather refrain from this major sin (Part No. 7; Page No. 204) and offense jeopardizing the acceptance of his prayer. Every Muslim man should eschew such a sinful attitude, repent from it and draw near to Allah (Glorified be He) with what makes him most obedient to His Commands. Every Muslim man should also turn away from all that displeases Allah so that he may win His Pleasure and Paradise and shield himself from a painful torture and punishment in the Day of Resurrection.May Allah grant us success. May Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and companions!