Is this Hadith authentic and is the reference correct?
Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said to a man who was performing Salah while his lower garment was below his ankles, “Go and perform your wudu again.” That man went and came back having performed it. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) again said, “Go and perform your wudu.” Someone present asked Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam): “O Messenger of Allah! Why did you ask him to repeat his wudu.” The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam): said, “He performed Salah while his lower garment was below his ankles. Allah the Almighty does not accept the Salah of a man who trails his lower garment.”
(Abu Dawud)
Answer
This Hadith is recorded in several sources, among them are:
Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 638, As-Sunanul Kubra of Imam Nasai, Hadith: 9623 and Musnad Ahmad, vol. 4 pg. 67
Authenticity
Imam Nawawi (rahimahullah) has declared the chain of Abu Dawud as authentic (sahih).
‘Allamah Haythami (rahimahullah) has declared the narrators of Musnad Ahmad as authentic.
‘Allamah Dhahabi (rahimahullah) mentioned that the chain of Nasai is suitable (salih).
(Riyadus Salihin, Hadith: 794, Majma’uz Zawaid, vol. 5 pg. 125 and Al Muhaddhab ‘Alas Sunanil Kubra, Hadith: 2932)
Note: In some of the sources above, this Hadith is quoted in its abridged form.
One may quote this Hadith to emphasise the importance of keeping the garments above the ankles in salah.
However, for a juristic ruling (fatwa) on the state of such a person’s salah, one should refer to a reliable mufti.
See here for an article on the importance of keeping the garments above the ankles even out of salah.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,
Answered by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar