Explanation regarding the awrah of the man
Explanation regarding the Awrah
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
The Awrah of the woman is a common topic and widely discussed amongst the muslims. Allaah has prescribed us guidelines, both men and women. However the male Awrah is a topic, that doesn't get the same coverage, as the Awrah of the women gets.
Men should also cover their Awrah, just like women have to. There is no exception in this case, rules are to be followed. It's also not easy to find quality readings about this matter, but those who search will find. Having you here on this page is a sign Allaah whishes good for you, glad tidings to those who are in seek of knowledge.
وعن معاوية رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : "من يرد الله به خيرًا يفقه في الدين" ((متفق عليه))
Mu'awiyah (May Allaah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah said, "When Allah wishes good for someone, He bestows upon him the understanding of Deen."
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Summary
The short version on this matter is that the mans Awrah is between the belly button and knees. It doesn't matter whether one is praying or outside prayer. This is the belief of the pios predecessors and scholars of jurispudence.
Abu Musa narrated:
The Prophet (ﷺ) entered a garden and ordered me to guard its gate. A man came and asked permission to enter. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Allow him and give him glad tidings that he will enter Paradise." See! It was Abu Bakr. Another man came and asked permission to enter. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Allow him and give him glad tidings that he will enter Paradise." See! It was Omar. Then another man came and asked permission to enter. The Prophet (ﷺ) was silent for a short time and then said: "Allow him and give him the glad tidings that he will enter Paradise with a calamity to befall him." See! It was `Uthman bin `Affan. ('Asim, in another narration, said that the Prophet (ﷺ) sat in a place where there was water, and he bare his knees or his knee, and when 'Uthman entered he covered it.)[Sahih al-Bukhari 3695]
Abu Darda reported:
While I was sitting with the Prophet, Abu Bakr came, lifted the bottom of his garment and bared his knee. The Prophet (ﷺ) then said: "Your companion has had a quarrel." Abu Bakr greeted (the Prophet (ﷺ)) and said, "O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), there was something (i.e. quarrel) between me and the Son of Al-Khattab ('Umar). I addressed him harshly and got I then regretted it, and I asked him to forgive me, but he refused. That is why I have come to you."
[Sahih al-Bukhari 3661]
Narrations of the madhahib on the 'awrah of men
The various madhahib have clarified the matter. They described in their books of Fiqh the 'awrah of the man.
Below you will find the descriptions of the Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali schools of law. We find that the madhab of Imam Shafi'i most clearly describes the 'awrah of both man and woman.
Maliki madhab
ابْنُ حَبِيبٍ: ويوضأ كما يتوضأ الحي، ويدخل الماء في ثلاثا ويستر عورته من سرته إلى ركبتيه،
Imam Ibn Habeeb al-Maliki said:
"In the washing of the dead, the same ablution is performed as in wudhu. Then water is poured over him three times. The 'awrah of the dead is covered, which is between the navel and knees."
[Al-Nawadir wa Ziyadat 1/543 by Ibn Abi Zayd al-Qayrawani]
Shafi'i madhab
قال الإمام الشافعي : «وعورة الرجل ما دون سرته إلى ركبتيه ليس سرته ولا ركبتاه من عورته» .
[الأم، باب الصلاة 1/ 109]
Imam Shafi'i said:
"A man's awrah is that which is below his navel to his knees. Neither his navel nor his knees are part of the 'awrah (i.e. only what falls in between)."
[Al-Umm, Chapter of Prayer 1/109 of Imam Shafi'i]
Hanbali madhab
قال أبو بكر بن محمد بن صدقة: سألت أبا عبد اللَّه أحمد بن حنبل عن السرة من العورة؟
فقال: أسفل السرة إلى الركبة عورة
"طبقات الحنابلة" 1/156
Imam Ahmad said:
"The 'awrah of the man is below the navel to the knee."
[Tabaqat al-Hanabilah 1/156]
