TI0124 - English - Clothing (for prayer)

[List of Contents - Rulings of prayer (Thozhugai sattangal book by MI Sulaiman)]

Clothing (for prayer)

The one who prays should wear specific clothing. Islam sets some specifications for women and some specifications for men.

Those with extra clothing should mandatorily cover the shoulder.

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَاصِمٍ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ لاَ يُصَلِّي أَحَدُكُمْ فِي الثَّوْبِ الْوَاحِدِ، لَيْسَ عَلَى عَاتِقَيْهِ شَىْءٌ ‏"‏‏.‏

Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "None of you should offer prayer in a single garment that does not cover the shoulders."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 359
In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 11
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 8, Hadith 355
  (deprecated numbering scheme)
URL reference : https://sunnah.com/bukhari:359

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَعَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ، وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، جَمِيعًا عَنِ ابْنِ عُيَيْنَةَ، قَالَ زُهَيْرٌ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ لاَ يُصَلِّي أَحَدُكُمْ فِي الثَّوْبِ الْوَاحِدِ لَيْسَ عَلَى عَاتِقَيْهِ مِنْهُ شَىْءٌ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Abu Huraira reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: None of you must pray in a single garment of which no part comes over his shoulders.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 516
In-book reference : Book 4, Hadith 313
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1046
  (deprecated numbering scheme)
URL reference : https://sunnah.com/muslim:516

People with less clothing should wear a cloth only around the waist.

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ صَالِحٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا فُلَيْحُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ، قَالَ سَأَلْنَا جَابِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنِ الصَّلاَةِ، فِي الثَّوْبِ الْوَاحِدِ فَقَالَ خَرَجْتُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي بَعْضِ أَسْفَارِهِ، فَجِئْتُ لَيْلَةً لِبَعْضِ أَمْرِي، فَوَجَدْتُهُ يُصَلِّي وَعَلَىَّ ثَوْبٌ وَاحِدٌ، فَاشْتَمَلْتُ بِهِ وَصَلَّيْتُ إِلَى جَانِبِهِ، فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ قَالَ ‏"‏ مَا السُّرَى يَا جَابِرُ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ بِحَاجَتِي، فَلَمَّا فَرَغْتُ قَالَ ‏"‏ مَا هَذَا الاِشْتِمَالُ الَّذِي رَأَيْتُ ‏"‏‏.‏ قُلْتُ كَانَ ثَوْبٌ‏.‏ يَعْنِي ضَاقَ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ فَإِنْ كَانَ وَاسِعًا فَالْتَحِفْ بِهِ، وَإِنْ كَانَ ضَيِّقًا فَاتَّزِرْ بِهِ ‏"‏‏.‏

Narrated Sa`id bin Al-Harith:
I asked Jabir bin `Abdullah about praying in a single garment. He said, "I traveled with the Prophet (ﷺ) during some of his journeys, and I came to him at night for some purpose and I found him praying. At that time, I was wearing a single garment with which I covered my shoulders and prayed by his side. When he finished the prayer, he asked, 'O Jabir! What has brought you here?' I told him what I wanted. When I finished, he asked, 'O Jabir! What is this garment which I have seen and with which you covered your shoulders?' I replied, 'It is a (tight) garment.' He said, 'If the garment is large enough, wrap it round the body (covering the shoulders) and if it is tight (too short) then use it as an Izar (tie it around your waist only.)' "
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 361
In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 13
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 8, Hadith 357
  (deprecated numbering scheme)
URL reference : https://sunnah.com/bukhari:361

It is widely said that the one who prays must wear a cap; But, there is no proof in the Prophetic tradition for this. You can pray wearing a cap if you want, and you can work without wearing a cap if you want as well.

Women should cover their whole body while praying. The face, forearms, and feet may be open. The head should be veiled.

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ بُكَيْرٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ عُقَيْلٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عُرْوَةُ بْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ، أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ، أَخْبَرَتْهُ قَالَتْ، كُنَّ نِسَاءُ الْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَشْهَدْنَ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم صَلاَةَ الْفَجْرِ مُتَلَفِّعَاتٍ بِمُرُوطِهِنَّ، ثُمَّ يَنْقَلِبْنَ إِلَى بُيُوتِهِنَّ حِينَ يَقْضِينَ الصَّلاَةَ، لاَ يَعْرِفُهُنَّ أَحَدٌ مِنَ الْغَلَسِ‏.‏

Narrated `Aisha:
The believing women covered with their veiling sheets used to attend the Fajr prayer with Allah's Apostle, and after finishing the prayer they would return to their home and nobody could recognize them because of darkness.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 578
In-book reference : Book 9, Hadith 54
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 10, Hadith 552
  (deprecated numbering scheme)
URL reference : https://sunnah.com/bukhari:578

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ كُنَّ نِسَاءُ الْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يُصَلِّينَ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ صَلاَةَ الصُّبْحِ ثُمَّ يَرْجِعْنَ إِلَى أَهْلِهِنَّ فَلاَ يَعْرِفُهُنَّ أَحَدٌ ‏.‏ تَعْنِي مِنَ الْغَلَسِ ‏.‏

It was narrated that 'Aishah said:
"The believing women used to perform the Subh prayer with the Prophet, then they would go back to their families and no one would recognize them," meaning of the darkness.
Grade : Sahih (Darussalam)
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 669
In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 3
English translation : Vol. 1, Book 2, Hadith 669
URL reference : https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah:669

حَدَّثَنَا هَنَّادٌ، حَدَّثَنَا قَبِيصَةُ، عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ سِيرِينَ، عَنْ صَفِيَّةَ ابْنَةِ الْحَارِثِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ لاَ تُقْبَلُ صَلاَةُ الْحَائِضِ إِلاَّ بِخِمَارٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو ‏.‏ وَقَوْلُهُ ‏"‏ الْحَائِضُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ يَعْنِي الْمَرْأَةَ الْبَالِغَ يَعْنِي إِذَا حَاضَتْ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ عَائِشَةَ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ ‏.‏ وَالْعَمَلُ عَلَيْهِ عِنْدَ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ أَنَّ الْمَرْأَةَ إِذَا أَدْرَكَتْ فَصَلَّتْ وَشَيْءٌ مِنْ شَعْرِهَا مَكْشُوفٌ لاَ تَجُوزُ صَلاَتُهَا ‏.‏ وَهُوَ قَوْلُ الشَّافِعِيِّ قَالَ لاَ تَجُوزُ صَلاَةُ الْمَرْأَةِ وَشَيْءٌ مِنْ جَسَدِهَا مَكْشُوفٌ ‏.‏ قَالَ الشَّافِعِيُّ وَقَدْ قِيلَ إِنْ كَانَ ظَهْرُ قَدَمَيْهَا مَكْشُوفًا فَصَلاَتُهَا جَائِزَةٌ ‏.‏

Aishah narrated that:
Allah's Messenger said: "The Salat of a women who has reached the age of menstruation is not accepted without a Khimar"
Grade : Sahih (Darussalam)
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 377
In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 229
English translation : Vol. 1, Book 2, Hadith 377
URL reference : https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi:377

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا حَجَّاجُ بْنُ مِنْهَالٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِيرِينَ، عَنْ صَفِيَّةَ بِنْتِ الْحَارِثِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ قَالَ ‏ "‏ لاَ يَقْبَلُ اللَّهُ صَلاَةَ حَائِضٍ إِلاَّ بِخِمَارٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ رَوَاهُ سَعِيدٌ - يَعْنِي ابْنَ أَبِي عَرُوبَةَ - عَنْ قَتَادَةَ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏.‏

Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: Allah does not accept the prayer of a woman who has reached puberty unless she wears a veil.
Abu Dawud said: This tradition has been narrated by Sa;id b. Abi 'Arubah from Qatadah on the authority of al-Hasan from the Prophet (ﷺ).
Grade : Sahih (Al-Albani)   صحيح   (الألباني) حكم   :
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 641
In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 251
English translation : Book 2, Hadith 641
URL reference : https://sunnah.com/abudawud:641

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْوَلِيدِ، وَأَبُو النُّعْمَانِ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِيرِينَ، عَنْ صَفِيَّةَ بِنْتِ الْحَارِثِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ ‏ "‏ لاَ يَقْبَلُ اللَّهُ صَلاَةَ حَائِضٍ إِلاَّ بِخِمَارٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

It was narrated from 'Aishah that:
The Prophet said: "Allah does not accept the prayer of a woman who menstruates (i.e., an adult woman) except with a head cover."
Grade : Sahih (Darussalam)
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 655
In-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 389
English translation : Vol. 1, Book 1, Hadith 655
URL reference : https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah:655

Some say that women should wear socks on their feet while praying; But, there is no proof for this. You can pray wearing socks if you want. You can pray without wearing socks as well.

The clothing worn must be clean from impurities.

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ فَاطِمَةَ بِنْتِ الْمُنْذِرِ، عَنْ أَسْمَاءَ بِنْتِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ، أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ سَأَلَتِ امْرَأَةٌ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، أَرَأَيْتَ إِحْدَانَا إِذَا أَصَابَ ثَوْبَهَا الدَّمُ مِنَ الْحَيْضَةِ، كَيْفَ تَصْنَعُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ إِذَا أَصَابَ ثَوْبَ إِحْدَاكُنَّ الدَّمُ مِنَ الْحَيْضَةِ، فَلْتَقْرُصْهُ ثُمَّ لِتَنْضَحْهُ بِمَاءٍ، ثُمَّ لِتُصَلِّي فِيهِ ‏"‏‏.‏

Narrated Asma' bint Abi Bakr:
A woman asked Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! What should we do, if the blood of menses falls on our clothes?" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) replied, "If the blood of menses falls on the garment of anyone of you, she must take hold of the blood spot, rub it, and wash it with water and then pray in (with it).
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 307
In-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 12
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 6, Hadith 304
  (deprecated numbering scheme)
URL reference : https://sunnah.com/bukhari:307

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدَانُ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ مَيْمُونٍ الْجَزَرِيُّ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ كُنْتُ أَغْسِلُ الْجَنَابَةَ مِنْ ثَوْبِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم، فَيَخْرُجُ إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ، وَإِنَّ بُقَعَ الْمَاءِ فِي ثَوْبِهِ‏.‏

Narrated `Aisha:
I used to wash the traces of Janaba (semen) from the clothes of the Prophet (ﷺ) and he used to go for prayers while traces of water were still on it (water spots were still visible).
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 229
In-book reference : Book 4, Hadith 95
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 4, Hadith 229
  (deprecated numbering scheme)
URL reference : https://sunnah.com/bukhari:229

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ، عَنْ أُمِّ قَيْسٍ بِنْتِ مِحْصَنٍ، أَنَّهَا أَتَتْ بِابْنٍ لَهَا صَغِيرٍ، لَمْ يَأْكُلِ الطَّعَامَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم، فَأَجْلَسَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي حِجْرِهِ، فَبَالَ عَلَى ثَوْبِهِ، فَدَعَا بِمَاءٍ فَنَضَحَهُ وَلَمْ يَغْسِلْهُ‏.‏

Narrated Um Qais bint Mihsin:
I brought my young son, who had not started eating (ordinary food) to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) who took him and made him sit in his lap. The child urinated on the garment of the Prophet, so he asked for water and poured it over the soiled (area) and did not wash it.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 223
In-book reference : Book 4, Hadith 89
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 4, Hadith 223
  (deprecated numbering scheme)
URL reference : https://sunnah.com/bukhari:223

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الأَحْوَصِ، عَنْ سِمَاكِ بْنِ حَرْبٍ، عَنْ قَابُوسَ بْنِ أَبِي الْمُخَارِقِ، عَنْ لُبَابَةَ بِنْتِ الْحَارِثِ، قَالَتْ بَالَ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ فِي حِجْرِ النَّبِيِّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَعْطِنِي ثَوْبَكَ وَالْبَسْ ثَوْبًا غَيْرَهُ فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ إِنَّمَا يُنْضَحُ مِنْ بَوْلِ الذَّكَرِ وَيُغْسَلُ مِنْ بَوْلِ الأُنْثَى ‏"‏ ‏.‏

It was narrated that Lubabah bint Harith said:
"Husain bin 'Ali urinated in the lap of the Prophet and I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, give me your garment and put on another garment.' He said: 'Water should be sprinkled on the urine of a baby boy, and the urine of a baby girl should be washed away.'"
Grade : Sahih (Darussalam)
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 522
In-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 256
English translation : Vol. 1, Book 1, Hadith 522
URL reference : https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah:522

وَعَنْ أَبِي اَلسَّمْحِ ‏- رضى الله عنه ‏- قَالَ: قَالَ اَلنَّبِيُّ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-{ يُغْسَلُ مِنْ بَوْلِ اَلْجَارِيَةِ, وَيُرَشُّ مِنْ بَوْلِ اَلْغُلَامِ } أَخْرَجَهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ, وَالنَّسَائِيُّ, وَصَحَّحَهُ اَلْحَاكِم ُ 1‏ .‏

‏1 ‏- صحيح.‏ رواه أبو داود (376)‏، والنسائي (158)‏، والحاكم (166)‏ بسند حسن، عن أبي السمح، قال: كنت أخدم النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، فكان إذا أراد أن يغتسل، قال: "ولني قفاك" فأوليه قفاي، فأستره به، فأتي بحسن أو حسين رضي الله عنهما، فبال على صدره، فجئت أغسله، فقال صلى الله عليه وسلم فذكر الحديث.‏ ومع حسن إسناده إلا أني صححته لورود شواهد أخرى كثيرة له، ذكرتها "بالأصل".‏

Narrated Abu As-Samh (rad):
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: “The urine of a baby girl should be washed off and the urine of baby boy should be sprinkled (with water)”. [Reported by Abu Da’ud and An-Nasa’i and Al-Hakim graded it Sahih (sound)].
Reference : Bulugh al-Maram 29
In-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 34
English translation : Book 1, Hadith 33
URL reference : https://sunnah.com/bulugh:29

Translated by: Abu Abdul Baari and Ummu Abdul Baari
Source: நபிவழியில் தொழுகை சட்டங்கள் (Nabivazhiyil Thozhugay Sattangal) book by MI Muhammad Sulaiman, Aug 2015 edition, page 74-76
The original source (Tamizh): http://thowheedtranslations.blogspot.com/2021/09/ti0123-tamizh-clothing-for-prayer.html

[List of Contents - Rulings of prayer (Thozhugai sattangal book by MI Sulaiman)]