How do you cover your awra with a pair of swim harem trousers?

Swimming whilst covering one’s awra, it is possible. But many Muslim men wear clothes that do not really meet Islamic requirements without realising it. Fabric that clings when wet, shorts that ride up, a belt that sits too low: the awra is exposed even when fully clothed. The Islamic modesty is a core value in Islam. It does not stop at the front door. It applies at the beach, by a lake, or during a family day out. So how, then, to cover one’s awrah What’s the right way to go about it when you want to go for a swim? Which modest swimwear Does it really comply with Islamic requirements? Here’s what you need to know about the the part of the man that needs to be hidden and how to cover it properly with a swim harem trousers.

What is the awra in Islam?

The word awra comes from the Arabic (العورة). It refers to the parts of the body that a Muslim is’Islamic obligation to cover. The awrah refers to nudity in the Islamic sense of the term. It is not simply a matter of social decency. It is a religious obligation based on the Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him.

The Qur’an refers to this in particular in Surah An-Nur (24:30), instructing believers to lower their gaze and guard their private parts. Covering one’s awrah is one of the obligations of every Muslim, both men and women, in all circumstances when in the presence of others. The scholars are unanimous on this point.

The awra is not the same for men and women. It also varies depending on who is present. It is a central topic of the fiqh, Islamic jurisprudence, which has been the subject of particular attention from the ulema over the centuries.

The awrah in men: what the Sunnah says

The area: from the navel to the knees

The majority of Islamic scholars agree that a man’s awrah is situated between the navel and the knees. This is the prevailing view within the four major schools of Islamic jurisprudence: Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i and Hanbali. The the part of the man that needs to be hidden It therefore covers the thighs, lower abdomen and private parts.

Two hadiths of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, support this distinction.

The first is reported by Jarhad al-Aslami. The Prophet passed by him whilst his thigh was bare. He said to him: «O Jarhad, cover your thigh, for The thigh is part of the awrah. » (Reported by Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Ibn Maja.)

The second is reported by Abdallah ibn Ja’far: « The area between the navel and the knee is considered awrah. »

These two hadiths clearly establish that the thighs are part of the area that must be covered. It is not just the private parts in the strict sense; it is the entire area from the navel to the knees.

The three scholars’ views on the exact boundaries

There is a difference of opinion amongst scholars as to whether the navel and knees are included in the awrah.

The initial opinion, the most common view, includes the navel and the knees within the area to be covered. The garment must reach up to the navel and extend below the knee. This is the view held by the Hanafi, Shafi’i and Hanbali schools of thought.

The second opinion, an opinion advocated in particular by Sheikh Al-Albani, excludes the navel and knees from the boundaries. It is based on the Arabic wording of the hadith, in which the word «bayna» (between) is said to exclude the aforementioned areas. This opinion does, however, recommend covering them as a precaution.

The third opinion, as supported by Ibn Hazm, holds that only the private parts are strictly considered awra in men. This view remains a minority opinion amongst scholars.

As a precautionary measure and in line with the majority view, the practical rule to bear in mind is as follows: Swimwear must cover from the navel to just below the knees.

In front of whom must one cover one’s awrah?

A man has what is known as a «single» awrah. It remains the same in almost all situations, unlike that of a woman, whose awrah varies more depending on who is present.

• In front of his wife. There is no awra between husband and wife. A man may see his wife and be seen by her without restriction.
• In front of Muslim men. A man must cover his awrah in the presence of other men, whether he knows them or not. It is not permitted to expose the area between the navel and the knees in the presence of other men.
• In the presence of non-mahram women. The requirement is even stricter. A man must cover his awrah in the presence of any non-married woman, that is to say, any woman who is not his wife.
• Alone, with no witnesses. The strict obligation is relaxed when a man is alone. It is, however, recommended that one remain modest even when there are no witnesses, by haya (inner modesty) and out of respect for Allah.

At the beach and by the pool: does the awra need to be covered?

The answer is yes. The obligation to cover one’s awrah doesn’t stop as soon as you get near the water.

Some people think that swimming is a special circumstance that justifies an exemption. This is not the case. Whether you are at the beach, or in a private swimming pool, as soon as you are in the company of other people, the requirement applies in full.

The beach is, in fact, one of the places where this obligation is most often neglected. Traditional swimming shorts do not usually cover the thighs. They ride up when you get out of the water. They become tight-fitting when wet. In all these cases, the awra is exposed or outlined, which contravenes the requirements of the Islamic modesty.

Bathing in Islam is a permitted and recommended activity. The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, encouraged certain physical activities, including swimming. There is nothing to prevent one from going for a swim. The only condition is to do so with a appropriate swimwear in accordance with Islamic rules.

The sarouel swimsuit: the halal swimsuit for swimming

Why a standard swimsuit isn’t enough

A classic swimming costume or standard swimming shorts do not cover a man’s awra. They leave the thighs exposed. They are often cut above the knee. When wet, they become tight-fitting and reveal the contours of the body.

An outfit can cover an area without hiding it if it follows its every curve. The awra must be covered and not depicted. This is a fundamental principle of Islamic fiqh relating to clothing.

The requirements for a char3i swimsuit

For a Islamic swimwear To be valid under fiqh, it must meet several conditions:

• cover the area between the navel and the knees, including the thighs
• not to be transparent when wet
• do not cling to the body or outline the contours
• to stay in place in the water and whilst moving

A thin fabric that becomes transparent underwater does not meet these requirements. Nor do shorts that ride up when you come out of the water. The cover must remain effective in all positions: standing, sitting, crouching, and in the water.

Swim harem trousers: the ‘mastour’ solution

The swim harem trousers is the Islamic swim shorts designed to meet all these requirements. It covers from the navel to just below the knees. Made from polyester and elastane, it does not cling to the skin and does not become see-through when wet. Its loose fit does not cling to the body, even in the water. It is a Mastour outfit in the full sense of the word.

This is the key difference compared to Bermuda shorts or ordinary beach shorts. The latter, even when long, are often made of cotton. They become heavy when wet, cling to the legs when you get out of the water, and can make the awra visible. A swim harem trousers Made from high-quality technical polyester, it remains loose-fitting, opaque and dry within a few minutes.

Buy a swimsuit that complies with Islamic teachings in our swimwear sarouel range. Halal swim shorts made from technical fabrics suitable for swimming, with cuts that fully cover the male awra. Some of our styles feature a double layer of Lycra, ensuring complete opacity even when wet. Others include built-in undershorts for extra support.

The mistakes many men make that expose their awrah

There are several situations in which one may unwittingly expose one’s awra at the beach.

1. Wearing cotton Bermuda shorts. It clings to the skin when one comes out of the water and reveals the body’s contours. The awra is no longer covered in the fiqh sense, even if the area is clothed.
2. Choosing a model that is too short. Shorts that come just to the knee may ride up in the water or when getting out. They must remain below the knee in all positions.
3. Choose a lightweight, unlined fabric. Some modest swimwear Those sold online are made of fabric that is too thin. When wet, they become partially see-through and no longer comply with Islamic requirements. Opt for styles with an inner Lycra lining.
4. Ignoring the waist height. A waistband that is too low reveals the lower abdomen when you move. The waistband should reach up to the navel.

Summary