Short answer
Only if they cover from the navel to below the knees. In the Hanafi school a man's awrah runs from the navel down to and including the knees, so shorts that show the knees or thighs in front of others are not allowed. The Shafi'i and Hanbali schools do not count the knee itself as awrah.
A man's awrah is from just below the navel down to and including the knees. Showing any of it to anyone other than his wife is haram. In prayer, if a quarter of a part of the awrah such as the thigh or knee is uncovered for the length of one pillar, the prayer is invalid.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- The awrah is between the navel and the knee; the navel and knees themselves are not awrah, though part of them is covered to be sure.
- Hanbali
- The same as the Shafi'is: the knees are not awrah.
- Maliki
- The private parts are the strict awrah; the thighs are a lighter awrah that should still be covered in front of others.
Explanation
The Prophet ﷺ passed a man in the mosque whose thigh was showing and told him that the thigh is awrah. Other hadiths mark the zone as between the navel and the knee. The Hanafi school also includes the knee itself, based on reports that the knee is part of the awrah, so Hanafi men need to cover the knees too. See awrah for men and women.
Everyday shorts. Most shorts stop above the knee, and many knee-length shorts ride up when you sit, run or kneel. Choose shorts that stay below the knee, three-quarter trousers, or tracksuit bottoms.
Sport and the gym. Footballers, runners and swimmers can wear longer shorts, or wear leggings or compression tights under ordinary shorts. Tights on their own show the shape of the body, so wear something loose over them: see tight clothes. For swimming, a pair of long board shorts works well.
At home. Alone or with your wife, you may wear what you like. Even then, the Prophet taught that Allah is more deserving than people that one should be modest before Him, so covering is the better manner. When others are around, including family members, the awrah must be covered, and you should lower your gaze from the awrah of others too.
The evidence
Quran, Surah An-Noor 24:30
قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا۟ مِنْ أَبْصَٰرِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا۟ فُرُوجَهُمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَزْكَىٰ لَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ خَبِيرٌۢ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ ﴿٣٠﴾
Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what they do.
Men are told to guard their private parts and their gaze.
Quran, Surah Al-A'raaf 7:26
يَٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ قَدْ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ لِبَاسًۭا يُوَٰرِى سَوْءَٰتِكُمْ وَرِيشًۭا ۖ وَلِبَاسُ ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌۭ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ ءَايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ ﴿٢٦﴾
O children of Adam, We have bestowed upon you clothing to conceal your private parts and as adornment. But the clothing of righteousness - that is best. That is from the signs of Allah that perhaps they will remember.
Clothing exists to cover the awrah.
Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2795
Graded sahih... مر النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم بجرهد في المسجد وقد انكشف فخذه فقال إن الفخذ عورة ...
"The Prophet passed by Jarhad in the mosque while his thigh was uncovered and said: the thigh is awrah."
Shows that the thigh must be covered.
Sunan Abi Dawud 4017
Graded hasan... الله أحق أن يستحيا منه من الناس ...
"Allah is more deserving than people that one should be modest before Him."
Encourages covering even when alone.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Salah, chapter on the conditions of prayer. A man's awrah is from below the navel to the knee, and the knee is included.
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Salah, chapter on the conditions of prayer, covering the awrah. The rule of a quarter of a limb uncovered for one pillar.
- Minhaj al-Talibin, Kitab al-Salah, chapter on the conditions of prayer. The Shafi'i definition of a man's awrah.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.