The Ruling on Praying in a Nightshirt

Question:
May Allah reward you. We move on to a message from a listener of the program who says: What is the ruling on praying in a nightshirt? We see many people, first in the mosques during the Fajr prayer, coming to pray in their nightshirts. Is this permissible, O Shaykh?

Answer:
What is required in prayer, which is a condition for its validity, is covering the 'awrah (the part of the body that must be covered). If the 'awrah is covered, the condition is met, and what remains of adorning oneself is recommended (mustahabb). It is recommended for him to adorn himself for prayer. As for the one who prays in his nightclothes and people criticize him for it, that is not permissible for him, because it causes people to look down on him, and because he has left off adorning himself for prayer, which is recommended, and he is certain that he should adorn himself for his prayer. If he wanted to go to a person or to a place where people gather for a celebration or a wedding feast, you would see him adorning himself. So why does he not adorn himself for the celebration of prayer and entering the houses of Allah? He should adorn himself and use perfume, so that he is in the best state. Yes. May Allah reward you, O Honorable Shaykh, and may Allah bless you and your knowledge, and benefit Islam and the Muslims through you.