The Classification of ‘Awras
The major ‘awra (al-mughalladha) entails the front and rear saw’atan (private parts). Covering this is a shart (condition) for the prayer to be valid, provided one has the qudrah (ability) to do so. If one does not have any garment, they pray without one and it will be valid. However, if one does have a garment and uncovers the ‘awra mughalladha, then the prayer is invalid.
The minor ‘awra (mukhaffafa) entails the area between the navel and the knee, excluding the major ‘awra, i.e. the private parts. If uncovered during prayer, the prayer must be repeated within the daruri time. Outside of the prayer, it must be covered in the presence of everyone except one’s wife. The navel and knees are not included in the ‘awra mukhaffafa and are not obligated to be covered.
The Thigh
The Dominant Opinion (mashhur): The thigh is part of the minor ‘awra (al-mukhaffafa). The Prophet ﷺ explicitly told Ma’mar: غط فخذك فإن الفخذ عورة “Cover your thigh, for the thigh is ‘awra“.¹ He ﷺ similarly instructed Jarhad when his thigh was exposed: غط فخذك فإنها من العورة “Cover your thigh, for verily it is part of the ‘awra“.² He commanded Ali لا تكشف عن فخذك ، ولا تنظر إلى فخذ حي ولا ميت “Do not uncover your thigh, and do not look at the thigh of the living or the dead”.³ These explicit commands form the basis of the dominant ruling. The narrations are considered authoritative according to Qarafi.⁴
Alternative Opinions. Other hadiths report that the Prophet’s ﷺ thigh was seen uncovered, such as the hadith of Anas at Khaybar⁵ and the Hadith of ‘Aisha regarding Uthman’s visit⁶. These instances lead some to suggest that uncovering the thigh might only be makruh (disliked), not forbidden, or that the prohibition is context-dependent. Qadi Abu Bakr ibn al-Arabi interpreted the Hadith of Ibn Jahsh as indicating karahah (dislike).⁷ However, despite these narrations describing specific events, the Maliki school’s established (mashhur) position prioritizes the explicit commands to cover the thigh found in the primary hadith evidence (from Jarhad, Ibn Jahsh, and Ali).
Implication for Dress: Given the definitive mashhur position that the thigh is ‘awra, clothing that exposes the area between the navel and knee does not fulfill the requirement of covering the ‘awra, hence is forbidden in the presence of others except one’s wife.
Summary: The dominant (mashhur) view in the Maliki school definitively considers a man’s thigh (fakhdh) part of the minor ‘awra. While acknowledging the hadiths that may suggest otherwise, the school’s established position relies on the clear prophetic commands to cover the thigh. Therefore, clothing like shorts that expose the thigh do not meet the requirement for covering the ‘awra.
Written by: Ali A. Ben Saad
Study Maliki fiqh at Arkview.org.
Footnotes
¹ « غط فخذك فإن الفخذ عورة ». Narrated by Ahmad in Al-Musnad 5/290; Al-Bayhaqi in As-Sunan al-Kubra (Kitab as-Salah, Bab ‘Awrat ar-Rajul); referenced by Al-Bukhari without chain (ta’liqan) in Sahih al-Bukhari (Kitab as-Salah, Bab ma yudhkaru fi al-fakhidh).
² « غط فخذك فإنها من العورة ». Narrated by Abu Dawud in Sunan Abi Dawud (Kitab al-Hammam, Bab an-Nahy ‘an at-Ta’arri); At-Tirmidhi in Sunan at-Tirmidhi (Kitab al-Adab, Bab ma ja’a anna al-fakhidh ‘Awrah); referenced by Al-Bukhari without chain (ta’liqan) in Sahih al-Bukhari (Kitab as-Salah, Bab ma yudhkaru fi al-fakhidh).
³ « لا تكشف عن فخذك ، ولا تنظر إلى فخذ حي ولا ميت ». Narrated by Abu Dawud in Sunan Abi Dawud (Kitab al-Hammam, Bab an-Nahy ‘an at-Ta’arri); Ibn Majah in Sunan Ibn Majah (Kitab al-Jana’iz, Bab ma ja’a fi ghusl al-mayyit).
⁴ See discussion in Adh-Dhakhirah by Al-Qarafi 1/480; Al-Mustadrak by Al-Hakim (with At-Talkhis by Adh-Dhahabi) 4/180.
⁵ From the description: “…وانحسر الإزار عن فخذه ، حتى إني لأنظر إلى بياض فخذ نبي الله” (“…and the Izar slipped from his thigh, such that I could see the whiteness of the Prophet of Allah’s thigh”). Narrated by Al-Bukhari in Sahih al-Bukhari (Kitab as-Salah, Bab ma yudhkaru fi al-fakhidh); Muslim in Sahih Muslim (Kitab an-Nikah, Bab fadilat i’taqihi amatan thumma yatazawwajuha).
⁶ Concludes with the Prophet’s ﷺ statement: « ألا أستحي من رجل تستحي منه الملائكة » (“Should I not be shy of a man whom the angels are shy of?”). Narrated by Muslim in Sahih Muslim (Kitab Fada’il as-Sahabah, Bab min fada’il ‘Uthman).
⁷ Ahkam al-Qur’an by Ibn al-Arabi 2/779.