#461: Can Salāt be made in a Singlet

QUESTION

” Question: Is it permissible to offer salah while wearing a singlet? The normal singlet that don’t cover the shoulders well.. I have seen brothers offering salah(in their rooms) while wearing a singlet.”

ANSWER

Alhamdulillāh Wa As-Salātu Wa As-Salāmu ‘Alā Rasūlillah.

As for the Clothes of the Man in Salāt, the Ulamā have an agreement that it is Wājib to conceal the ‘Awrah and prevent anything that shows it directly or through a transparent wear.
They also agree that the ‘Awrah of a man at its maximum is what lies between the navel button and the knees.

But they differ on praying in one cloth that exposes all of the shoulders.

The position of the Jamhūr (Majority) of the Fuqahā is that it is permissible, though disliked (Makrūh) as long as the nakedness between the Navel and the Knee is concealed.

The Hanbalis differed, they considered it impermissible to pray with the shoulders exposed.

The evidence used by the Hanbalis is the Hadīth that was recorded by bother Bukhārī and Muslim from Abū Hurayrah – radiyallāhu ‘anhu – that the Rasūl – salallāhu alayhi wasallam – said:

: (لَا يُصَلِّي أَحَدُكُمْ فِي الثَّوْبِ الْوَاحِدِ لَيْسَ عَلَى عَاتِقَيْهِ شَيْ)

“Let not any of you observe Salāt on one cloth in such a way that there is nothing OK his shoulders.”

The Hanbalis hold that this Hadīth clearly forbids observing Salāt in any dressing that leaves the shoulders exposed.

The evidence used by the Majority of the Fuqahā officially adopted by the Hanafi, the Mālikī and the Shāfi’ī Schools is the Hadīth that was recorded by both Imām Al-Bukhārī and Muslim from Sa’īd Ibn Al-Hārith who said :

“We asked Jābir Ibn ‘Abdillah about observing Salāt in a single cloth and he said:

“I once went out with the Rasūl – salallāhu alayhi wasallam – in one of his journeys. Once during the journey I left off to him to accomplish one of my personal matters. When I came I found him observing Salāt and I had only one cloth with me. So, I used it to wrap my entire self and I observed Salāt next to him. So when he finished his observance, he said: why did you come upon me at that time O Jābir? Then I told him my needs. When I finished, he said: why this wrapping (of yourself) that I see?’ I said: it is just a single cloth that is tight.
_He said: “So, if it is a wide one, you should conceal your entire self with it, and if it is narrow and small, then do with it an Izār (wrap it around your waist).”

They inferred from this Hadīth that using an Izār as accepted by the Rasūl – salallāhu alayhi wasallam – in a Nāfil Salāt as is clear from the context, shows that the Hadīth evidenced upon by the Hanbalis only shows Istih’bāb (Preference).

Imām An-Nawawī – rahimahullāh – said in the Sharh on Muslim:

“The Ulamā said: the Wisdom in this is that if he makes an Izār with it and does not put any of it on his shoulders, he stands the risk of getting his ‘Awrah exposed…”

The position of the majority holds more weight and Allāh knows best.
Jazaakumullahu khairan
Bārakallāhu fīkum

Answered by Abu Aasim

11th dhul Hijjah 1438A.H

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