What is the ruling on pilgrims removing their upper garment such that their abdomen and back are exposed?
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Question:
The questioner says: We see many pilgrims removing their upper garment, thereby exposing their abdomen and back, and they walk among the people in this state. Is there anything wrong with this?
Answer:
The one who removes his upper garment while in ihram, leaving the upper part of his body exposed, is acting inappropriately. Allah commanded adornment; He commanded adornment. Allah is beautiful and loves beauty. Exposing the upper part of the body is disfiguring and not beautiful. A Muslim is required to adorn himself, especially if he is in the Sacred Mosque, for he is required to adorn himself. Part of beauty is draping the upper garment over the upper part of the body. Which is better: the person who is exposed or the one who has draped the upper garment over his upper body? There is no doubt that the one who has draped the upper garment over his body is more beautiful and better. This is if he is outside of prayer. As for if he is praying with the upper part of his body exposed, some scholars hold that his prayer is invalid, such as Imam Ahmad. Imam Ahmad holds that it is necessary to cover one of the shoulders, based on the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him)Bulugh al-Maram 2:72 Therefore, it is necessary to cover one of the shoulders in prayer according to Imam Ahmad. According to the majority, this is recommended. In any case, adorning oneself in prayer and in other matters is a required matter [Al-A'raf 7:31] that is, in every prayer.
Why do you adorn yourself for people and not for Allah? When you stand before Him and at His House, why do you not adorn yourself with what Allah the Exalted has given you? Yes.
The questioner says: We see many pilgrims removing their upper garment, thereby exposing their abdomen and back, and they walk among the people in this state. Is there anything wrong with this?
Answer:
The one who removes his upper garment while in ihram, leaving the upper part of his body exposed, is acting inappropriately. Allah commanded adornment; He commanded adornment. Allah is beautiful and loves beauty. Exposing the upper part of the body is disfiguring and not beautiful. A Muslim is required to adorn himself, especially if he is in the Sacred Mosque, for he is required to adorn himself. Part of beauty is draping the upper garment over the upper part of the body. Which is better: the person who is exposed or the one who has draped the upper garment over his upper body? There is no doubt that the one who has draped the upper garment over his body is more beautiful and better. This is if he is outside of prayer. As for if he is praying with the upper part of his body exposed, some scholars hold that his prayer is invalid, such as Imam Ahmad. Imam Ahmad holds that it is necessary to cover one of the shoulders, based on the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him)
None of you should offer Salat (prayer) in a single garment with no part of it on his shoulders.
لا يصلي أحدكم في الثوب الواحد ليس على عاتقه منه شيءO children of Adam, take your adornment at every masjid
يَا بَنِي آدَمَ خُذُوا زِينَتَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍWhy do you adorn yourself for people and not for Allah? When you stand before Him and at His House, why do you not adorn yourself with what Allah the Exalted has given you? Yes.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، ما حكم نزع الطائفين للرداء؛ بحيث يظهر منطقتي البطن والظهر؟ #فتاوى الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.