Hijab for men & walking in front of people when praying

[sufireader]

Hi, what is the ruling on wearing boxer shorts.

I am a bit upset at this as when l wake up l don't want to get dressed instantly and l want to walk around my own house at ease.

Is it right for anyone in the house to object?

Another point:

Is it right for people to walk behind a person when they are at prayer? They often cause more disruption that walking in front of the person. They stand next to the person praying, putting subconscious pressure on them to go into prostration / finish their prayer, so that they can step over them and therefore pass behind them.

[sufireader]

I'm not sure how common the boxer short problem is, but certainly the limit for walking in front of someone is a very common problem, and l don't understand why it's such a problem for people to understand, it seems simple to me. I don't understand how they can go from praying in closely packed rows one minute, to making 2-feet detours (even then, the distance varies according to the "trespassers" personal taste) around the front of a peson praying, and then from that to stepping over a person's back and narrowly missing giving them a good kick on accident.

[alfarooq85]

Hi, a member of my close family refuses to look at me when l am wearing my boxer shorts.

I am a bit upset at this as when l wake up l don't want to get dressed instantly and l want to walk around my own house at ease.

Is it right for a close family member to take this attitude?

Yes, because the 'awrah (parts of the body which must be kept hidden) for males is from the navel to the knees. Therefore, it is prohibited for anyone (except your wife) to see anything which is between your navel and knees.

Your family member is correct in avoiding to look at you because he/she is following the commands of Allah (by lowering his/her gaze). Insha'Allah it would be in your best interest to avoid causing fitnah and simply put on some pants before you walk around the house. Not doing so would be a sin because you are exposing your 'awrah. (Bear in mind, this is applicable if your boxer shorts do not go up to your knees, which most don't).

Another point:

Is it right for people to walk behind a person when they are praying? They often cause more disruption that walking in front of the person. They stand next to the person praying, putting subconscious pressure on them to go into prostration / finish their prayer, so that they can step over them and therefore pass behind them.

Surely, the limit for walking in front of a person is to stay outside of the point where they touch the ground with their forehead? So, l don't see why people go to great lengths to walk many feet away from the front of someone when praying, only then to step over them from behind, as if that is somehow better. Surely religion is something easy and not ridiculous.

And what's wrong with simple patience, waiting for someone to just finish their prayer.

I agree with you with this point, as it would be proper adab for the person to simply sit in their place and wait for you to finish. By not doing so, as you mentioned, can put uncesscary pressure on you to finish your prayers. If it bothers you to the point of distracting your prayers, you can kindly ask the brother to wait for you to finish. However, this will be difficult, as many people seem to do this in the masaajid.

[alfatiha]

Yes, because the 'awrah (parts of the body which must be kept hidden) for males is from the navel to the knees. Therefore, it is prohibited for anyone (except your wife) to see anything which is between your navel and knees.

I thought mahram can see the 'aurat.

[Mikaeel]

I thought mahram can see the 'aurat.

same here...

[Quraatulain]

one should have a certain amount of Haya even in the presence of mehrams....... Al HAYOO SHUK BATA MINAL IMAN "MODESTY IS A BRANCH OF FAITH"

[sufireader]

Where is the sutra of a musalli if they don't use anything to indicate where it is?

The sutra is the forward limit of the space they give themselves for their prayer.

Surely it is the limit of where the top of their head reaches when they are in prostration?

[br_syed]

Usalamulaikum

Bruv, you don't need me to tell you as you seem knowledgeable yourself about "Paradise, lies at the feet of one's mother.".

If the individual whom you are talking about is your mother, just keep some trousers by your bedside and as soon as you get up put them on. It will probably require a sacrifice on your part for all the years that you have been doing differently. But, the reward is proportional to the effort

On the second point, I am sure one of the Shaykhs can remind us of the exact wording about a person walking in front of another person praying is accompanied by Shaytaan. This may not work but if you can try to start prayer in the front row. This way there is no one in front of you who will be wanting to go back. One less thing to worry about.

However, this is not always possible, as we sometimes arrive late. Pray the Fard prayer where you are or where you join. But, when going to make the sunnah prayers do not pray in the same place, try to look for a spot in the front. Plus, the more places we pray that means more earth that will testify for us on the Day of Judgment.

I am not a Shaykh so please do not take anything I have said as set as stone it is just some practical advice from my own experience which is very limited.