What Is a Man’s Awrah in Islam?

What Is a Man’s Awrah in Islam?

A man's awrah in Islam is the area from the belly button to the knees — and it must be covered in public. N2K’s Modest Swim Shorts are designed to help Muslim men do just that. Shop now at www.Never2Kind.com

Understanding a Man’s Awrah: A Quick Breakdown

In Islam, awrah refers to the parts of the body that must remain covered out of modesty and respect — not just during prayer, but also in public, during sport, or at the beach.

For Muslim men, the awrah includes everything between the navel and the knees. This ruling is agreed upon by the majority of scholars and applies whether you're in a masjid, at the gym, or swimming on holiday.

Covering this area is part of upholding Islamic values and carrying yourself with dignity — especially in environments where modesty is often forgotten.

Why Is It Important to Cover a Man’s Awrah?

The Prophet (peace be upon him) reminded us that modesty is part of faith. And that responsibility extends to men just as much as it does to women.

For Muslim men, this means choosing clothing that doesn’t reveal what should be hidden — even unintentionally. Regular swimwear or sportswear often misses the mark, especially when it gets wet or shifts during movement.

Common Questions

Can I wear regular gym or swim shorts?
Most standard shorts don’t meet the requirement. They’re too short, ride up when moving, or go see-through when wet. The safer option is clothing designed specifically to cover a man’s awrah — like N2K’s Modest Swim Shorts.

What happens if I don’t cover my awrah?
It affects your modesty and, in some cases, even the validity of your prayer (salah). It’s something we should all be mindful of — not out of fear, but out of respect for ourselves and our deen.

What’s a practical modest swimwear solution?
That’s why N2K exists — to fill the gap between functionality and faith.

N2K: Swimwear That Respects a Man’s Awrah
At N2K, we’ve created swim shorts designed for real-life use — without compromising on Islamic values.