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Thighs getting uncovered and understanding the related hadiths

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by Qibla.com

Answered by Sidi Suheil Laher

I understand that generally a man’s awra is the area between his naval and knees. However, are there any instances were exposure of the thigh is not considered to be sinful? The reason I ask is because I prefer to ride a bicycle as a preferred method of exercise during the summer months. I make every attempt to wear long shorts so as to cover my thighs down to my knees. However, there are times when the area above my knee, not a large portion, becomes exposed. I doubt that anyone can see or notice as I am on the move. Yet it is something that I have now become conscious and for the time being I have stopped in the hopes of Insha’ Allah finding a resolution. In addition, I have become slightly more confused because there seem to be conflicting Hadith with this regard. For example, there are Hadith that relate that the Prophet of Allah (pbuh) was sitting in front of one his companions with his thigh exposed. (I think it is Al-Bukhari). Further, there are instances also narrated in Hadith that the Prophet of Allah (pbuh) stated that the thigh is part of the awra. I have also come across the following Information: Man’s `Awrah is divided into two kinds: major (mughalladhah) and minor (makhafaffah). The major `Awrah includes man’s private parts. The minor `Awrah includes thighs. And there is no contradiction between the command of lowering one’s gaze from thighs because they are `Awrah and between uncovering them because they are minor `Awrah.â€� I apologize for the long and convoluted question but hope that Insha’Allah you may be able to clarify the issue.

Answer:
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

wa`alaykum as-salam wa-rahmatullah

 
1) The more reliable position is that thigh is `awrah, as you mention.
The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) has said,
Cover your thigh, for the thigh is [part] of the nakedness.
    [Narrated by :    Tirmidhi, who graded it as hasan, and also by
                              Abu Dawud, Ahmad, Malik and Ibn Hibban.
       Similar narrations are also narrated by Ahmad, and by Tabarani in “al-Mu`jam al-Kabir.”
       Tirmidhi also narrated, “The thigh is a nakedness” and graded it hasan gharib. Bukhari quoted this as ta`liq.]
 
2) Regarding the hadith stating that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) leaving his thighs exposed even after the entry of Abu Bakr and `Umar (may Allah be well-pleased with them). It is narrated by Ahmad and Tabarani (see: Nayl al-Awtar, and I`la al-Sunan), and Qadi Shawkani (may Allah bless him) has pointed out that it may not be depended upon, because
i) It is a confused (mudtarib) narration. Muslim’s version expresses doubt as to whether it was the thighs or the shins.
ii) It is not as authentic as the hadiths stating the thigh is `awrah.
iii) It is a description of an action, whereas the general principle is that a verbal directive takes priority over such a narrative. (e.g. it is possible that it occurred before the prohibition was revealed.)
 
3) You should do your best to keep your thighs and knees covered. The knee, too, is considered part of the `awrah, in the Hanafi school. One of my Shafi`i teachers pointed out that even though the Shafi`is do not consider the knee `awrah, it is still advised to cover it, for otherwise it becomes difficult to guarantee that the thigh remains covered.
 
If it is just a tiny amount of the thigh that is unintentionally exposed, and in circumstances in which it is not clearly visible to people, as you describe, then we hope that it would be forgiven by Allah. But it would be better if you can wear longer pants/trousers, or at least shorts that normally cover to the bottom of the knees, such that while riding it may be at most your knees that get exposed, rather than part of the thigh. 
 
And Allah knows best.
-sl

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