by Asma bint Shameem
One of the conditions for the Salaah to be valid is that the person’s awrah should be completely covered.
🍃Allaah says:
“Take your adornment (by wearing your clean clothes) while praying” (al-A‘raaf 7:31)
🍃 Ibn ‘Abbaas Radhi Allaahu anhu said:
“What is meant by ‘adornment’ in this aayah is ‘wearing clothes whilst praying’.” (Tafseer al-Tabari 12/391)
🍃 And the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said:
“When one of you prays, let him wear his two garments, for Allaah is more deserving that you should adorn yourself for Him.” (al-Bayhaqi 2/235 ; saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah 1369)
But what if the awrah gets exposed during Salaah?
The validity of the prayer then depends on certain situations.
🌷Scenario #1
If awrah is exposed BEFORE you start the prayer,
And you know about it , that Salaah is invalid.
🍃The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said:
“Allaah does not accept the prayer of a woman who menstruates (i.e., an adult woman) unless her head is covered.” (Abu Dawood, 641; al-Tirmidhi, others- saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 7747)
🍃And Shaikh Ibn Baaz said:
“The entire woman is ‘awrah when she is praying, apart from her face.
🌷Scenario #2
If your awrah gets exposed AFTER you started your Salaah
This can be of different kinds.
1️⃣The awrah that’s showing is small and is exposed for a short period of time
▪️Example
Part of your neck, a few strands of your hair, a small part of your forearm etc gets exposed when you bend over or move etc.
in this situation there’s nothing for you to do and the Salaah is valid.
🍃 Ibn Taymiyah said:
"If a small part of her hair or body becomes uncovered, she does not have to repeat the prayer according to most of the scholars.”
(Majmoo‘ al-Fataawa 22/123)
2️⃣ If a LARGE part of your awrah is exposed but you quickly covered it
▪️Example:
your whole hijaab fell off or your pants fell off, and that happened for a short period of time, and you quickly put your hijaab or pants back on, then the Salaah is valid.
🍃 Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:
“If a large amount becomes uncovered but he covers it quickly, then his prayer is not invalidated. That can be imagined if the wind blows when he is bowing and lifts his garment, but he immediately puts it back….the correct view is that it is not rendered invalid, because he covered it quickly, and did not uncover it deliberately, and Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala says:
“So fear Allaah as much as you are able.” [at-Taghaabun 64:16]."
(Ash-Sharh al-Mumti‘ 2/75).
3️⃣ If a small portion of your body gets exposed for a LONG period of time, and you didn’t know that.
▪️Example:
Like some of your hair, or part of your neck or other small part of your body was showing all throughout your prayer and you didn’t know.
In such situations, the Salaah is still valid.
🍃 Al-Bahooti said:
“The prayer is not rendered invalid if a small part of the ‘awrah becomes uncovered unintentionally, even if that small part remains uncovered for a long time.”
(Kashshaaf al-Qinaa‘ 1/269)
4️⃣ If a large part of your awrah got exposed during prayer and you were aware of it yet you don’t cover it deliberately then obviously your prayer becomes invalid and you must repeat it.
🍃 Ibn Taymiyah said:
"If a large part becomes uncovered, she must repeat the prayer straightaway, according to the majority of scholars, the four Imaams and others.”
(Majmoo‘ al-Fataawa 22/123)
If a large portion of your awrah became uncovered during prayer for a long time and you were not aware of that,
then it’s best to repeat your Salaah to be on the safe side, even if you didn’t know about it, according to the majority of the scholars.
But if this happened some time back and you realized that your awrah was exposed, after a long time had passed since you offered your prayer, then you don’t have to repeat the prayer.
And Allaah knows best
Comments