Performing Salah in a Single Garment is Permissible with Conditions

Hadith Reference:​

It is narrated from Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
"None of you should pray in a single garment unless part of it covers his shoulders."
(Sahih al-Bukhari: 359 | Sahih Muslim: 516)

Key Lessons from This Hadith:​

❶ Performing Salah in a single garment is permissible, but the shoulders must be covered.

• If the cloth is large enough, it should be wrapped around the body properly so that it covers the shoulders.

❷ Praying with an uncovered head (without a cap or turban) is permissible.

• However, if additional clothing is available, it is recommended to cover the head.
• Covering the head outside of Salah is also considered a good practice for a believer.
• Merely wearing a cap for Salah and removing it immediately after exiting the mosque is an unnecessary formality.

❸ Covering the shoulders during Salah is obligatory (Wajib).

• If a person has an additional piece of cloth, it must be used to cover the shoulders.
• Leaving the shoulders uncovered without a valid reason is against the Sunnah and the instructions of the Prophet (ﷺ).

❹ It is incorrect to consider head covering as an absolute requirement for the validity of Salah.

• While it is recommended, it is neither a Fard (obligation) nor a Wajib (essential part) of Salah.
• The belief that Salah is invalid without a cap or turban is an exaggeration.

Source:
This content is taken from Sheikh Taqi al-Din Abi al-Fath's book "Diya' al-Islam fi Sharh al-Imam bi Ahadith al-Ahkam", translated by Maulana Mahmood Ahmad Ghaznfar.