Source: Fatāwā Muḥammadīyah, Vol. 1, p. 386
Question:
Is praying bareheaded established from the Prophet ﷺ through authentic and marfūʿ aḥādīth? Please provide the references.
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd:
Yes, praying bareheaded is established from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in authentic and marfūʿ narrations. A few examples are:
① First Ḥadīth
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (1/51)
Muḥammad ibn al-Munkadir said:
“I saw Jābir ibn ʿAbdullāh praying in a single garment. When asked, he replied: I saw the Prophet ﷺ praying in a single garment.”
② Second Ḥadīth
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (1/52)
Abū Salamah said:
“I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ praying in the house of Umm Salamah, wrapped in a single garment, with its two ends placed on his shoulders.”
③ Third Ḥadīth
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (1/53)
Muḥammad ibn al-Munkadir reported:
“I entered upon Jābir ibn ʿAbdullāh while he was praying in a single garment wrapped around himself, with his cloak lying aside. When he finished, we said: O Abū ʿAbdullāh, you prayed in one garment while another was beside you? He replied: Yes, I wanted ignorant people like you to see (and know) that I saw the Prophet ﷺ praying in this manner.”
Conclusion
These authentic marfūʿ aḥādīth clearly show that the Prophet ﷺ prayed at times in a single garment, which could leave the head uncovered.
Therefore, praying bareheaded is established from the Sunnah and is permissible.
هٰذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
