Source: Fatāwā Muḥammadīyah, Vol. 1, p. 385
If a person has a head covering available, can he still pray bareheaded? Which of the two options is superior? In our area, one man who calls himself Ahl-e-Ḥadīth does not allow praying bareheaded at all.
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd:
◈ Praying bareheaded is permissible.
◈ Even if a head covering is available, praying bareheaded does not invalidate the prayer nor diminish its validity.
◈ However, if one has a head covering and deliberately leaves the head uncovered in prayer, this is not the more preferred option.
◈ To make it a habit to pray bareheaded is considered blameworthy (maʿyūb).
As for those who show harshness and do not allow praying bareheaded at all, this is an act of excess (ghulūw).
Since the Sharīʿah itself has allowed it, no scholar or preacher has the authority to prohibit what the Sharīʿah has permitted.
Authentic aḥādīth prove that the Prophet ﷺ prayed both in one garment and in two garments. Therefore, praying bareheaded is absolutely valid and permissible.
هٰذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
Question:
If a person has a head covering available, can he still pray bareheaded? Which of the two options is superior? In our area, one man who calls himself Ahl-e-Ḥadīth does not allow praying bareheaded at all.
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd:
◈ Praying bareheaded is permissible.
◈ Even if a head covering is available, praying bareheaded does not invalidate the prayer nor diminish its validity.
◈ However, if one has a head covering and deliberately leaves the head uncovered in prayer, this is not the more preferred option.
◈ To make it a habit to pray bareheaded is considered blameworthy (maʿyūb).
As for those who show harshness and do not allow praying bareheaded at all, this is an act of excess (ghulūw).
Since the Sharīʿah itself has allowed it, no scholar or preacher has the authority to prohibit what the Sharīʿah has permitted.
Authentic aḥādīth prove that the Prophet ﷺ prayed both in one garment and in two garments. Therefore, praying bareheaded is absolutely valid and permissible.
هٰذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
