The Book of Adornment - Sunan an-Nasa'i 5326

The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: "While a man was dragging his Izar out of pride, the earth swallowed him up, and he will continue sinking into it until the Day of Resurrection."

Commentary on the Narration

This profound hadith from Sunan an-Nasa'i addresses the grave sin of pride and arrogance manifested through clothing. The Izar (lower garment) being dragged indicates intentional lengthening beyond necessity to display arrogance.

Scholars explain that this severe punishment demonstrates how Allah detests pride. The continuous sinking signifies the eternal nature of the punishment in the Hereafter for those who die upon such arrogance without repentance.

Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani comments that this serves as a warning against all forms of pride, whether in dress, wealth, or lineage. The dragging of garments was specifically mentioned as it was a known practice among the arrogant in pre-Islamic times.

Legal Rulings Derived

The scholars derive from this that it is prohibited for men to let their garments extend below the ankles out of pride. Imam Nawawi states this constitutes major sin if done arrogantly.

Even without pride, the Prophet instructed that the Izar should not extend beyond the ankles. This hadith emphasizes the spiritual danger when combined with arrogance.

The permanent nature of the punishment indicates this was not merely a worldly punishment but reflects the eternal consequence awaiting the arrogant in the Hereafter.