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Fatwa CenterThe exact length of women's hems
Question
Please explain this Ahadith I found on islam-qa.com The issue of Isbaal applies to women just as much as it applies to men. This is indicated by the Hadith of Ibn 'Umar, May Allah be pleased with him, who said: "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: 'Whoever trails his garment on the ground out of pride, Allah will not look at him.' Umm Salamah said: 'O Messenger of Allah, what should women do with their hems?' He said, 'Let them go down a handspan.' She asked, 'What if their feet show?' He said, 'Let them lengthen it by a cubit, but no more.' (al-Nisaa'i, Kitaab al-Zeenah, Baab Dhuyool al-Nisaa'). What is the meaning of hems?
Answer
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the World; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.
There is difference between al-Isbaal (lowering a dress to be under one's ankle) ruling for a man and a woman. As for man, it is prohibited to let his dress down to exceed his ankles. A woman is obliged to cover her two feet since they are an Aura (a part of body, which should be concealed from seeing by alien men).
Imam Ibn Hajar said: 'As a result, it is desirable for men to shorten their dresses to the mid-part of legs; otherwise, they are allowed to make their dresses not exceed their ankles. As for women, it is desirable for them to wear a dress that is a hand span longer than men; otherwise, they are allowed to have a dress that is one Ziraa (a measure equals 46,2 cm.) longer than men.
As for what you called, "Dhuyool al-Nisaa: trains of women gowns", this word means what a woman whose dress is trailing on the floor.
Al-Fairozabadi in his book al-Qamoos said: 'al-Zail means the lower part and the end of everything, and the part of a dress which one trails along on the floor'.
Allah knows best.
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