Question:
Allah has given me a child – All praise belongs to Allah – however, I have some doubts about imposing Islamic clothing on young children. Can we clothe them in trousers instead?
Answer:
We advise you to avoid trousers. However, if you were to clothe them in ‘saraaweel’; it is hoped that this would not be a problem at their age and that they would gradually be eased into more suitable clothing thereafter. As for the present-day trousers; we do not advise that they be worn.
The people are now able to distinguish between trousers and ‘sirwaal’. The tailoring, style and fabric of trousers are well known. Similarly, the tailoring, style and fabric of ‘sirwaal’ are also well known to the people. (It is clear) ‘ This is a sirwaal’ and ‘These are trousers’
We advise (the wearing of) trousers to be avoided. Do not clothe them in trousers. If there are some saraaweel available, then this is not a problem, especially at this age – and Allah knows best.
As for older children; it is not appropriate for them to wear saraaweel except if they are wearing an izaar over it.
The Prophet ﷺ said
تسرولوا وائتزروا
Wear the ‘sirwaal’ and the ‘izaar’ (over it)
[Hadith Abou Omamah in The Musnad of Imam Ahmad. Hadith Number: 2283]
This hadith was graded ‘Hasan’ by Albaani. Wearing an izaar over the sirwaal is better for the older child even if the sirwaal is loose. We advise this to be avoided even if it is loose. It is not known that The Prophet ﷺ wore trousers or sirwaal without an izaar over it. This is not known, and if it was known it would have been reported.
However if he cannot find an izaar or anything else then he may wear saraaweel. The Prophet ﷺ said specifically during Hajj:
وَمَنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ إِزَارًا فَلْيَلْبَسْ سَرَاوِيلَ
Whoever does not find an izaar let him wear saraaweel
[Narrated by Ibn Abbas In Bukhari 1841 and Muslim 1179]
Based upon this; there is nothing wrong with applying greater flexibility to the clothing of young children in saraaweel (without an izaar); due to the hadith we have just mentioned.
وَمَنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ إِزَارًا فَلْيَلْبَسْ سَرَاوِيلَ
Whoever does not find an izaar let him wear saraaweel
Answered by: Shaykh Abu Bilaal Al-Hadhramy – may Allah preserve him
Source: https://t.me/abubilalhami/2879
Answered on: 3 Rabbi Al-Awal 1441 (31th October 2019)
Translated by: Abu Sufian Saami ibn Daniel Al-Ghaani