According to an Islamic book its been said that it is makruh-e-tahrimi (sin) in namaz to fold the trousers from the feet or the waist and so makes it wajib for your to repeat the namaz. So if you don’t wear trousers that hang above your ankles then make sure you don’t fold them in namaz. You previously said that you must fold them in namaz whether they hang above your ankles or not. I am constantly getting frustrated with people who have different views on one aspect, this was the same for the view of the beard, some say its sin some say its makrooh and have no clear proof. Please, this will have an affect to the Muslims who are learning, they will become frustrated and fail to learn aspects of Islam regarding the Sunnah of prophet Mohammed pbuh and so give up. The most knowledgeable should have one view, as that will bring unity with Muslims, with different views, people will be divided. Please do something about these issues.
There has always been differences of opinion among Ulama on various Shar’ee
rulings. A distinct example is that of the different rulings among the four
illustrious Fuqahaa (jurists); Imaam Nu’maan ibn Thaabit Abu Hanifa, Imaam
Muhammad ibn Idrees Shaaf’ee, Imaam Maalik ibn Anas Maalik, Imaam Ahmad ibn
Hanbal.
Each one of the four was an ocean of knowledge and had the necessary skills
and requirements to deduce rulings from the Qur’aan and Hadith in matters
not express and explicit in the Qur’aan and Hadith. As Muqallids, we place
our trust in the deductions of one particular Imaam, and follow his ruling
on any given matter. The Ulama of today are also bound by the rulings of any
one Imaam. They do not have the qualifications like anyone of the four
illustrious Imaams and neither is their drops of knowledge comparable to the
vast oceans of knowledge of the illustrious Fuqahaa.
It may well be that a person not having the necessary qualification issue a
ruling and creates confusion in the mind of simple minded but sincere
people. It is precisely for this reason that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi
Wasallam) advised, ‘Verily this knowledge (of Shari’ah) is Deen (religion),
so be careful from who you seek your religion.’ (Mishkaat vol.1 Chapter of
Knowledge).
Reverting to the original question, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam)
prohibited from lowering the pants below the ankle. The prohibition is
general, for Salaat and out of Salaat. However, the intensity of the
prohibition is more in Salaat. Ideally and in principle, a person should not
wear trousers below the ankles, but if a person is wearing such a trousers,
it is either the person performs Salaat by folding his pants above the
ankles to comply with the Hadith prohibiting the flow of the pants below the
ankles, thus, making his Salaat Makrooh. Surely, folding the pants is the
solution to avoiding the sin. There is no Hadith prohibiting folding the
pants. Any such reference is a distortion of people ignorant of Hadith. We
hope the above answers your query.
and Allah Ta’ala Knows Best
Mufti Ebrahim Desai