Question

I heard from one of my teachers that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) had worn a “sirwal” in his lifetime, while another said he never wore it, but approved of it. Would you please add some clarity to this matter?

Kindly please translate the word “sirwal” as well.

 

Answer

سروال (sirwal) or سراويل (sarawil) is the Arabicized equivalent of the Persian word شلوار (Shalwar). It has been defined as a well-known type of trousers or pants.

(‘Umdatul Qari, before Hadith: 5804, Tajul ‘Arus, vol. 29, pgs. 197-198, and Arabix Lexicon, vol. 4, pg. 1354)

Majority, if not all, of the Muhaddithun have agreed upon the fact that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) purchased a “sirwal”. They have differed, however, on whether Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) wore it or not.

Some of the Muhaddithun, like ‘Allamah Subki (rahimahullah), have clearly opined that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) did not wear them. Others have echoed similar sentiments, mentioning that it hasn’t been proven Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) wore them.

(Al-Ajwibatul Mardiyyah, vol. 2, pg. 830, Al-Mawahibul Ladunniyyah, vol. 2, pg. 463-464, Al-Fatawa Al-Hadithiyyah of Al-Haytami, pgs. 286-287, and Ashraful Wasail, Hadith: 117)

A seemingly larger group of Muhaddithun, however, have proposed that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) did in fact wear them, or at least clearly intended to do so. This was the opinion of Muhaddithun such as: Ibnu Qayyim, Ibn Hajar, Sakhawi, and others (rahimahullah).

(Zadul Ma’ad, vol. 1, pg. 134, Fathul Bari, Hadith: 5805, Al-Ajwibatul Mardiyyah, vol. 2, pg. 833; Also see: Subulul Huda war Rashad, vol. 7, pgs. 484-485)

For further detail, kindly refer to the aforementioned references.

 

And Allah Ta’ala knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Farhan Shariff

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar