Prayer in a Single Garment is Acceptable in Case of Necessity

Hadith Reference:​

It is narrated from Sa‘id bin al-Harith that:
"We asked Jabir (رضي الله عنه) about praying in a single garment. He replied, 'I was once traveling with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). One night, I had some personal need, so I went to him and found him offering prayer. I had only one cloth, so I wrapped it around myself and stood by his side in prayer. When he finished, he asked, "O Jabir, do you have some concern?" I explained my need to him. After I finished, he asked, "What was this way of wrapping yourself that I saw?" I replied, "It was just a single cloth." He then instructed, "If the cloth is wide, wrap it around your body completely, and if it is narrow, tie it around your waist (like a lower garment)."' "
(Sahih al-Bukhari: 361)

Key Lessons from This Hadith:​

❶ If a person has only one piece of clothing that can cover most of the body, they should wrap it around themselves properly.

• The recommended way is to cross the upper corners of the cloth under opposite armpits and tie them behind the neck so that the entire body is covered.

❷ If the garment is small and only covers from the navel to the ankles, it should be tied as a lower garment (Izar).

• This method is valid for prayer, as covering the private parts (Awrah) is obligatory.

❸ Wearing a loose cloth over the body without securing it properly is not recommended.

• A loosely draped cloth may fall or shift during Salah, leading to distractions or potential exposure, which can invalidate the prayer.

❹ In case of necessity, it is permissible to perform Salah with minimal clothing, as long as the Awrah remains covered.

❺ It is encouraged to join another person in prayer rather than sitting idle.

• If a person enters a mosque or a place where someone is praying, instead of waiting idly, they should join in prayer, giving priority to Salah over other matters.

❻ Traveling with a leader (Amir) and informing them about personal concerns is recommended.

• During travel, if a need arises, it is permissible to speak to the leader about it.
• Leaders should be observant of their companions, ensuring their needs are met and guiding them in Islamic rulings.

❼ Night prayer (Tahajjud) is encouraged.

• The Prophet (ﷺ) used to offer voluntary prayers at night, and companions would sometimes observe or join him.

❽ It is permissible to approach someone at night for a necessary matter, as long as it is done respectfully.

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.