Excerpt from the book “Ṣaḥīḥ Namāz-e-Nabawī ﷺ” authored by Shaykh ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ʿAzīz, published by Maktabah Dār al-Andalus
Clothing is a distinguishing mark of humans.
Allah Almighty says:
يَا بَنِي آدَمَ قَدْ أَنْزَلْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ لِبَاسًا يُوَارِي سَوْآتِكُمْ وَرِيشًا ۖ وَلِبَاسُ التَّقْوَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ
(Sūrat al-Aʿrāf: 26)
“O Children of Adam! We have bestowed upon you clothing to cover your nakedness and as an adornment, and the clothing of piety is best.”
Since Islam is a universal religion accepted by people from diverse regions, it does not prescribe a specific style of dress, but instead lays down certain conditions. Any attire meeting these conditions is considered Islamic dress.
✔ The following are general conditions applicable to all Muslims:
➊ The fabric should be thick enough to conceal the body.
➋ It should not be so tight that it outlines body parts.
[Muslim, Book of Clothing – 2128]
➌ It must not resemble the dress of non-Muslims.
[Muslim, Book of Clothing – 2077]
➍ It should not be worn to gain fame or attention.
[Abū Dāwūd – 4029; Ibn Mājah – 3607; Ḥasan]
➎ The following are gender-specific guidelines.
✔ Men should not wear silk. However, minor embroidery or threading with silk is permissible.
[Bukhārī – 5828; Muslim – 2069]
✔ Saffron-dyed garments are prohibited.
[Bukhārī – 5846; Muslim – 2077]
✔ The lower garment should fall above the ankles.
[Bukhārī – 5787; Muslim – 2086]
✔ Men should not imitate women’s attire.
[Bukhārī – 5885]
✔ Women should not imitate men’s clothing.
[Bukhārī – 5885]
✔ The clothing should cover the entire body.
[Muslim – 2128]
✔ When stepping outside, a woman should be fully covered from head to toe.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
المرأة عورة
“The woman is entirely ʿawrah (i.e., something to be covered).”
[Tirmidhī – 1173; Ṣaḥīḥ]
Umm Salamah رضي الله عنها asked the Prophet ﷺ:
“How much should women lower their garments?”
He ﷺ replied: “A hand span.”
She said: “Then their feet will be exposed?”
He ﷺ said: “Then a forearm’s length.”
[Tirmidhī – 1731; Ṣaḥīḥ]
✔ A woman’s clothing should not be so attractive that it draws attention.
[Sūrat al-Nūr: 31]
✔ She should not apply fragrance that reaches non-maḥram men.
[Nasā’ī – 5129; Ḥasan]
✔ No form of adornment should be revealed.
[Sūrat al-Nūr: 31]
Types of adornment:
✔ Clothing is a precondition for prayer. Men and women must adhere to it; otherwise, prayer is invalid.
➊ Wear clean and decent clothing.
Allah Almighty says:
يَا بَنِي آدَمَ خُذُوا زِينَتَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ
(Sūrat al-Aʿrāf: 31)
“O Children of Adam! Wear your adornment at every place of worship.”
Avoid shabby, dirty, or sleepwear for Ṣalāh.
Narration: Nāfiʿ said he once prayed in worn work-clothes. Ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنه rebuked him and said:
“Would you wear that in the market? Allah is more deserving of adornment than people.”
[al-Sunan al-Kubrā by al-Bayhaqī – 2/236, Ḥadīth 3273; Ṣaḥīḥ]
➋ Clothing should not be so decorative that it distracts during prayer.
Narration: The Prophet ﷺ once prayed in a beautiful cloak, then removed it saying:
“Take this cloak to Abū Jahm and bring me his plain cloak. It distracted me during prayer.”
[Bukhārī – 373; Muslim – 556]
➌ Clothes must not be rolled up or tucked, such as pants or sleeves.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
أمرت أن أسجد على سبعة، لا أكف شعرا ولا ثوبا
“I have been commanded to prostrate on seven limbs, and not to fold hair or garments.”
[Bukhārī – 816; Muslim – 490]
➍ If wearing only a long shirt (qamīṣ), ensure the neck opening is closed, so that private parts are not exposed during bowing.
[Abū Dāwūd – 632; Nasā’ī – 766; Ḥasan]
➎ If clothing is minimal, cover at least from navel to knees.
[Bukhārī – 361]
✔ The area between the navel and knees is considered ʿawrah (must be covered).
The Prophet ﷺ said:
ما بين السرة والركبة عورة
“What is between the navel and the knees is ʿawrah.”
[Irwāʾ al-Ghalīl – 271; Ḥasan]
✔ The shoulders must also be covered during prayer.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
لا يصلي أحدكم في الثوب الواحد ليس على عاتقيه شيء
“Let none of you pray in a single garment without something covering the shoulders.”
[Bukhārī – 359; Muslim – 516]
✔ It is harām to let one’s garment hang below the ankles in or outside prayer.
[Bukhārī – 5787; Muslim – 2087]
✔ The face should be uncovered during prayer.
[Musannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah – 2/242; Ṣaḥīḥ]
✔ Sadal (draping garment with sides hanging in front of the face) is disliked, resembling Jewish customs.
Even though the related ḥadīth is weak due to tadlīs, the opinion is supported authentically from ʿAlī and Ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما.
[Musannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah – 2/160–161; Ṣaḥīḥ]
✔ The head is not ʿawrah, and no authentic ḥadīth declares covering the head obligatory during prayer.
✔ Both covered and uncovered head prayers are authentically proven from the Prophet ﷺ and his companions.
✔ Hence, praying bareheaded is permissible.
Ḥanafī Fatawa:
➊ Mawlānā Ahmad Razā Khān (Barelwī) wrote:
“If a person prays bareheaded out of humility, there is no harm.”
[Aḥkām-e-Sharʿiyyah – 1/54]
➋ Fatāwā ʿĀlamgīrī states:
“It is disliked to pray bareheaded if one owns a turban and neglects it out of laziness. But if done for humility, there is no issue—in fact, it is better.”
Shaykh al-Albānī’s Remark:
It is astonishing how people strictly uphold wearing turbans or caps in prayer but habitually shave their beards, which is clearly prohibited, without guilt. They’ve reversed priorities—what was harām, they’ve permitted, and what was merely permissible, they’ve made obligatory.
[Silsilat al-Aḥādīth al-Ḍaʿīfah wa al-Mawḍūʿah – 129]
✔ A woman’s Ṣalāh is not accepted without a headscarf (khimār).
The Prophet ﷺ said:
لا يقبل الله صلاة حائض إلا بخمار
“Allah does not accept the prayer of a mature woman except with a khimār.”
[Abū Dāwūd – 641; Tirmidhī – 377; Ibn Mājah – 655; Ṣaḥīḥ]
✔ A woman must cover her entire body, except face and hands.
Ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما used to uncover the face of anyone praying with it covered.
[Musannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah – 2/242; Ṣaḥīḥ]
✔ Tābiʿīn like Muslim bin Budayl, Ibrāhīm al-Nakhaʿī, Imām al-Shaʿbī, and Muḥammad bin Sīrīn all disliked face covering in prayer.
[Musannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah – 2/242; with good and authentic chains]
✔ If non-maḥram men are present, the face and hands must be covered.
Sayyidah Asmā’ bint Abī Bakr رضي الله عنها said:
“We used to cover our faces from non-maḥram men during ḥajj in the state of iḥrām.”
[Ibn Khuzaymah – 2485; Ḥākim – 1/454, Ḥadīth 1668; both Ṣaḥīḥ]
✔ Women are prohibited from tying their hair into a bun during prayer.
[Bukhārī – 815; Muslim – 1095]
❖ The Importance of Clothing in Islam
Clothing is a distinguishing mark of humans.
Allah Almighty says:
يَا بَنِي آدَمَ قَدْ أَنْزَلْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ لِبَاسًا يُوَارِي سَوْآتِكُمْ وَرِيشًا ۖ وَلِبَاسُ التَّقْوَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ
(Sūrat al-Aʿrāf: 26)
“O Children of Adam! We have bestowed upon you clothing to cover your nakedness and as an adornment, and the clothing of piety is best.”
Since Islam is a universal religion accepted by people from diverse regions, it does not prescribe a specific style of dress, but instead lays down certain conditions. Any attire meeting these conditions is considered Islamic dress.
❖ Conditions of Islamic Clothing
✔ The following are general conditions applicable to all Muslims:
➊ The fabric should be thick enough to conceal the body.
➋ It should not be so tight that it outlines body parts.
[Muslim, Book of Clothing – 2128]➌ It must not resemble the dress of non-Muslims.
[Muslim, Book of Clothing – 2077]➍ It should not be worn to gain fame or attention.
[Abū Dāwūd – 4029; Ibn Mājah – 3607; Ḥasan]➎ The following are gender-specific guidelines.
❖ Men’s Clothing
✔ Men should not wear silk. However, minor embroidery or threading with silk is permissible.
[Bukhārī – 5828; Muslim – 2069]✔ Saffron-dyed garments are prohibited.
[Bukhārī – 5846; Muslim – 2077]✔ The lower garment should fall above the ankles.
[Bukhārī – 5787; Muslim – 2086]✔ Men should not imitate women’s attire.
[Bukhārī – 5885]❖ Women’s Clothing
✔ Women should not imitate men’s clothing.
[Bukhārī – 5885]✔ The clothing should cover the entire body.
[Muslim – 2128]✔ When stepping outside, a woman should be fully covered from head to toe.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
المرأة عورة
“The woman is entirely ʿawrah (i.e., something to be covered).”
[Tirmidhī – 1173; Ṣaḥīḥ]Umm Salamah رضي الله عنها asked the Prophet ﷺ:
“How much should women lower their garments?”
He ﷺ replied: “A hand span.”
She said: “Then their feet will be exposed?”
He ﷺ said: “Then a forearm’s length.”
[Tirmidhī – 1731; Ṣaḥīḥ]✔ A woman’s clothing should not be so attractive that it draws attention.
[Sūrat al-Nūr: 31]✔ She should not apply fragrance that reaches non-maḥram men.
[Nasā’ī – 5129; Ḥasan]✔ No form of adornment should be revealed.
[Sūrat al-Nūr: 31]Types of adornment:
- Outer adornment includes the eyes, hands, feet, and visible garments—preferably hidden but not obligatory.
- Inner adornment includes head, face, neck, arms, legs, and perfume—must not be shown to non-maḥram men.
❖ Clothing in Ṣalāh (Prayer)
✔ Clothing is a precondition for prayer. Men and women must adhere to it; otherwise, prayer is invalid.
General Rules for Clothing in Prayer
➊ Wear clean and decent clothing.
Allah Almighty says:
يَا بَنِي آدَمَ خُذُوا زِينَتَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ
(Sūrat al-Aʿrāf: 31)
“O Children of Adam! Wear your adornment at every place of worship.”
Avoid shabby, dirty, or sleepwear for Ṣalāh.
Narration: Nāfiʿ said he once prayed in worn work-clothes. Ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنه rebuked him and said:“Would you wear that in the market? Allah is more deserving of adornment than people.”
[al-Sunan al-Kubrā by al-Bayhaqī – 2/236, Ḥadīth 3273; Ṣaḥīḥ]➋ Clothing should not be so decorative that it distracts during prayer.
Narration: The Prophet ﷺ once prayed in a beautiful cloak, then removed it saying:“Take this cloak to Abū Jahm and bring me his plain cloak. It distracted me during prayer.”
[Bukhārī – 373; Muslim – 556]➌ Clothes must not be rolled up or tucked, such as pants or sleeves.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
أمرت أن أسجد على سبعة، لا أكف شعرا ولا ثوبا
“I have been commanded to prostrate on seven limbs, and not to fold hair or garments.”
[Bukhārī – 816; Muslim – 490]➍ If wearing only a long shirt (qamīṣ), ensure the neck opening is closed, so that private parts are not exposed during bowing.
[Abū Dāwūd – 632; Nasā’ī – 766; Ḥasan]➎ If clothing is minimal, cover at least from navel to knees.
[Bukhārī – 361]❖ Men’s Clothing in Prayer
✔ The area between the navel and knees is considered ʿawrah (must be covered).
The Prophet ﷺ said:
ما بين السرة والركبة عورة
“What is between the navel and the knees is ʿawrah.”
[Irwāʾ al-Ghalīl – 271; Ḥasan]✔ The shoulders must also be covered during prayer.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
لا يصلي أحدكم في الثوب الواحد ليس على عاتقيه شيء
“Let none of you pray in a single garment without something covering the shoulders.”
[Bukhārī – 359; Muslim – 516]✔ It is harām to let one’s garment hang below the ankles in or outside prayer.
[Bukhārī – 5787; Muslim – 2087]✔ The face should be uncovered during prayer.
[Musannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah – 2/242; Ṣaḥīḥ]✔ Sadal (draping garment with sides hanging in front of the face) is disliked, resembling Jewish customs.
Even though the related ḥadīth is weak due to tadlīs, the opinion is supported authentically from ʿAlī and Ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما.
[Musannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah – 2/160–161; Ṣaḥīḥ]❖ Praying Bareheaded
✔ The head is not ʿawrah, and no authentic ḥadīth declares covering the head obligatory during prayer.
✔ Both covered and uncovered head prayers are authentically proven from the Prophet ﷺ and his companions.
✔ Hence, praying bareheaded is permissible.
Ḥanafī Fatawa:
➊ Mawlānā Ahmad Razā Khān (Barelwī) wrote:
“If a person prays bareheaded out of humility, there is no harm.”
[Aḥkām-e-Sharʿiyyah – 1/54]➋ Fatāwā ʿĀlamgīrī states:
“It is disliked to pray bareheaded if one owns a turban and neglects it out of laziness. But if done for humility, there is no issue—in fact, it is better.”
Shaykh al-Albānī’s Remark:
It is astonishing how people strictly uphold wearing turbans or caps in prayer but habitually shave their beards, which is clearly prohibited, without guilt. They’ve reversed priorities—what was harām, they’ve permitted, and what was merely permissible, they’ve made obligatory.
[Silsilat al-Aḥādīth al-Ḍaʿīfah wa al-Mawḍūʿah – 129]❖ Women’s Clothing in Prayer
✔ A woman’s Ṣalāh is not accepted without a headscarf (khimār).
The Prophet ﷺ said:
لا يقبل الله صلاة حائض إلا بخمار
“Allah does not accept the prayer of a mature woman except with a khimār.”
[Abū Dāwūd – 641; Tirmidhī – 377; Ibn Mājah – 655; Ṣaḥīḥ]✔ A woman must cover her entire body, except face and hands.
Ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما used to uncover the face of anyone praying with it covered. [Musannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah – 2/242; Ṣaḥīḥ]✔ Tābiʿīn like Muslim bin Budayl, Ibrāhīm al-Nakhaʿī, Imām al-Shaʿbī, and Muḥammad bin Sīrīn all disliked face covering in prayer.
[Musannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah – 2/242; with good and authentic chains]✔ If non-maḥram men are present, the face and hands must be covered.
Sayyidah Asmā’ bint Abī Bakr رضي الله عنها said:
“We used to cover our faces from non-maḥram men during ḥajj in the state of iḥrām.”
[Ibn Khuzaymah – 2485; Ḥākim – 1/454, Ḥadīth 1668; both Ṣaḥīḥ]✔ Women are prohibited from tying their hair into a bun during prayer.
[Bukhārī – 815; Muslim – 1095]