Hadith 161
اُردوEn
وعن عائشة رضي الله عنها أن النبي صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم قال : « لا يقبل الله صلاة حائض إلا بخمار ». رواه الخمسة إلا النسائي وصححه ابن خزيمة.
Narrated ['Aishah (RA)]: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "The Salat (prayer) of a woman, who has reached puberty, is not accepted unless she is wearing a Khimar." [Reported by al-Khamsah except an-Naza'i. And Ibn Khuzaimah graded it Sahih (authentic)].
Related hadith on this topic
Explanation & Benefits
Shaykh Safi ur-Rahman Mubarakpuri
Lexical Explanation:
«حَائِضٌ» Here, it refers to an adult or adolescent woman, not a woman who is experiencing her menstrual days.
«الْخِمَار» "Kha" with a kasrah underneath refers to the cloth with which a woman covers and conceals her head and neck.
Benefits and Issues:
➊ This hadith establishes that at the time of prayer, the entire body of an adult or adolescent woman should be covered, to the extent that even the hair of her head should be concealed.
➋ Prayer is not valid in such clothing through which a woman's head hair is visible.
«حَائِضٌ» Here, it refers to an adult or adolescent woman, not a woman who is experiencing her menstrual days.
«الْخِمَار» "Kha" with a kasrah underneath refers to the cloth with which a woman covers and conceals her head and neck.
Benefits and Issues:
➊ This hadith establishes that at the time of prayer, the entire body of an adult or adolescent woman should be covered, to the extent that even the hair of her head should be concealed.
➋ Prayer is not valid in such clothing through which a woman's head hair is visible.
Source: Bulugh al-Maram: Commentary by Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Page: 161
Shaykh Dr. Abdur Rahman Freywai
1:
From this hadith, it is understood that a woman's head hair is included in the 'awrah (parts of the body that must be covered),
and prayer is not valid without covering the 'awrah.
2:
Although there is a difference of opinion among the scholars on this issue, the most accurate view is that a woman's feet are not included in the 'awrah,
therefore, prayer will be valid if the feet are uncovered, just as a woman's prayer is valid if her palms are uncovered.
The hadith regarding women covering their feet, which is narrated from Umm Salamah radi Allahu anha,
is weak in both its mawquf (attributed to a Companion) and marfu‘ (attributed to the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) forms.
From this hadith, it is understood that a woman's head hair is included in the 'awrah (parts of the body that must be covered),
and prayer is not valid without covering the 'awrah.
2:
Although there is a difference of opinion among the scholars on this issue, the most accurate view is that a woman's feet are not included in the 'awrah,
therefore, prayer will be valid if the feet are uncovered, just as a woman's prayer is valid if her palms are uncovered.
The hadith regarding women covering their feet, which is narrated from Umm Salamah radi Allahu anha,
is weak in both its mawquf (attributed to a Companion) and marfu‘ (attributed to the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) forms.
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi – Majlis ‘Ilmi Dar al-Da‘wah, New Delhi Edition, Page: 377
Shaykh Umar Farooq Saeedi
641. Commentary:
➊ The obligation of covering the head with a cloth is specific to women, not to men.
➋ In the case of such transparent cloths through which a woman's head hair is visible, prayer is not valid in them.
➊ The obligation of covering the head with a cloth is specific to women, not to men.
➋ In the case of such transparent cloths through which a woman's head hair is visible, prayer is not valid in them.
Source: Sunan Abu Dawood – Commentary by Shaykh Umar Farooq Saeedi, Page: 641
Shaykh Mubashshir Ahmad Rabbani
Benefits and Issues
Apart from the manner and form of prayer, there are a few things in which the prayer of men and women differs:
➊ It is necessary for women to cover their heads with a scarf and also cover their feet.
Without this, the prayer of an adult woman is not accepted, as is mentioned in the Prophetic hadith:
«لَا يَقْبَلُ اللهُ صَلَاةَ الْحَائِضٍ إِلَّا بِخِمَارٍ» [ابن ماجه، كتاب الطهارة : باب إذاحاضت الجارة لم تصل إلابخمار 655، أبوداؤد 641، أحمد 150/6]
"Allah does not accept the prayer of an adult woman without a scarf."
But for men, it is necessary that, in all circumstances, their garment remains above the ankles, as is stated in an authentic hadith:
«مَا أَسْفَلَ مِنَ الْكَعْبَيْنِ مِنَ الْإِزَارِ فَفِي النَّارِ» [بخاري، كتاب اللباس : باب ما أسفل من الكعبين فهو فى النار 5787]
"The part of the lower garment that is below the ankles is in the Fire."
Apart from the manner and form of prayer, there are a few things in which the prayer of men and women differs:
➊ It is necessary for women to cover their heads with a scarf and also cover their feet.
Without this, the prayer of an adult woman is not accepted, as is mentioned in the Prophetic hadith:
«لَا يَقْبَلُ اللهُ صَلَاةَ الْحَائِضٍ إِلَّا بِخِمَارٍ» [ابن ماجه، كتاب الطهارة : باب إذاحاضت الجارة لم تصل إلابخمار 655، أبوداؤد 641، أحمد 150/6]
"Allah does not accept the prayer of an adult woman without a scarf."
But for men, it is necessary that, in all circumstances, their garment remains above the ankles, as is stated in an authentic hadith:
«مَا أَسْفَلَ مِنَ الْكَعْبَيْنِ مِنَ الْإِزَارِ فَفِي النَّارِ» [بخاري، كتاب اللباس : باب ما أسفل من الكعبين فهو فى النار 5787]
"The part of the lower garment that is below the ankles is in the Fire."
Source: Ahkam wa Masail, Page: 196
Hafiz Imran Ayyub Lahori
How much of a woman’s body must be covered in prayer?
The awrah (i.e., the area to be covered) is that the entire body must be concealed except for the face and hands.
➊ The verse «خُذُوا زِينَتَكُمْ عِنْدَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ» [الأعراف: 7]
“Adorn yourselves at every place of worship (i.e., wear your adornment/garment at every prayer).” The generality of this verse includes women as well.
➋ It is narrated from Aisha radi Allahu anha that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: «لا يقبل الله صلاة حائض إلا بخمار» “Allah does not accept the prayer of a mature woman without a head covering (khimar).”
[صحيح: صحيح أبو داود 596، كتاب الصلاة: باب المرأة تصلى بغير حمار، أبو داود 641، ترمذي 377، ابن ماجة 655، حاكم 251/1]
As for those traditions and narrations in which it is specified that a woman should pray in three garments or two garments, for example, Umar radi Allahu anhu said: «تصلـى المـرأة فى ثلاثة أثواب: ذرع وخمار وإزار» “A woman will pray in three garments: a shirt (qamis), a head covering (khimar), and trousers (shalwar).”
[صحيح: تمام المنة ص/ 162]
And it is narrated regarding Maymunah radi Allahu anha that «أنها كانت تصلي فى الدرع والخمار ليس عليها إزارك» “She would pray in a shirt (qamis) and a head covering (khimar), while not wearing a lower garment (izaar).” [مؤطا 160/1، بيهقي 233/2]
All such narrations will be understood as indicating recommendation and virtue (not obligation). [تمام المنة ص/ 162]
Because (if the awrah is covered) prayer is valid even in a single garment. [نيل الأوطار 549/1]
As is proven by the authentic hadith narrated from Abu Hurairah radi Allahu anhu.
[أحمد 230/2، بخاري 365، كتاب الصلاة باب الصلاة فى القميص والسراويل والتبان والقباء، مسلم 515، أبو داود 625، نسائي 69/2، ابن ماجة 1047، ابن خزيمة 758]
The awrah (i.e., the area to be covered) is that the entire body must be concealed except for the face and hands.
➊ The verse «خُذُوا زِينَتَكُمْ عِنْدَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ» [الأعراف: 7]
“Adorn yourselves at every place of worship (i.e., wear your adornment/garment at every prayer).” The generality of this verse includes women as well.
➋ It is narrated from Aisha radi Allahu anha that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: «لا يقبل الله صلاة حائض إلا بخمار» “Allah does not accept the prayer of a mature woman without a head covering (khimar).”
[صحيح: صحيح أبو داود 596، كتاب الصلاة: باب المرأة تصلى بغير حمار، أبو داود 641، ترمذي 377، ابن ماجة 655، حاكم 251/1]
As for those traditions and narrations in which it is specified that a woman should pray in three garments or two garments, for example, Umar radi Allahu anhu said: «تصلـى المـرأة فى ثلاثة أثواب: ذرع وخمار وإزار» “A woman will pray in three garments: a shirt (qamis), a head covering (khimar), and trousers (shalwar).”
[صحيح: تمام المنة ص/ 162]
And it is narrated regarding Maymunah radi Allahu anha that «أنها كانت تصلي فى الدرع والخمار ليس عليها إزارك» “She would pray in a shirt (qamis) and a head covering (khimar), while not wearing a lower garment (izaar).” [مؤطا 160/1، بيهقي 233/2]
All such narrations will be understood as indicating recommendation and virtue (not obligation). [تمام المنة ص/ 162]
Because (if the awrah is covered) prayer is valid even in a single garment. [نيل الأوطار 549/1]
As is proven by the authentic hadith narrated from Abu Hurairah radi Allahu anhu.
[أحمد 230/2، بخاري 365، كتاب الصلاة باب الصلاة فى القميص والسراويل والتبان والقباء، مسلم 515، أبو داود 625، نسائي 69/2، ابن ماجة 1047، ابن خزيمة 758]
Source: Fiqh al-Hadith, Volume One, Page: 349
Maulana Ataullah Sajid
(1)
It is obligatory for a woman to cover her head during prayer, even if she is praying alone in a place where no one can see her.
This covering of the head is not for the purpose of veiling (hijab), because it is not obligatory for a woman to cover her head in front of her mahram (close male relatives).
(2)
By mentioning the ruling for women, it becomes clear that this ruling does not apply to men; a man may pray with his head uncovered. However, it is still disliked for a man to habitually remain bareheaded.
It is obligatory for a woman to cover her head during prayer, even if she is praying alone in a place where no one can see her.
This covering of the head is not for the purpose of veiling (hijab), because it is not obligatory for a woman to cover her head in front of her mahram (close male relatives).
(2)
By mentioning the ruling for women, it becomes clear that this ruling does not apply to men; a man may pray with his head uncovered. However, it is still disliked for a man to habitually remain bareheaded.
Source: Commentary on Sunan Ibn Mājah by Mawlānā ‘Atā’ullāh Sājid, Page: 655
