What is meant by the *sadal* (letting the garment hang loose) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade in prayer?
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The questioner : The honorable Shaykh (may Allah preserve you), I read a hadith in *Sahih al-Jami'* which is: Mishkat al-Masabih 764 What is *sadal* in this hadith? Is it letting the hands hang down, or letting the cloak or *bisht* (coat) hang on the shoulders without putting the hands in the sleeves? And what is the ruling on praying in this state?
The Shaykh : *Sadal* is this second meaning, and it relates to the garment, whether it is a cloak, a shirt, or a jacket. The important thing is that he does not put his hands in the sleeves of this garment, but rather throws it over his shoulders or his back.
Likewise, the garment that is like a *rida'* (cloak) or *izar* (lower garment) worn by pilgrims and those performing *'Umrah* is thrown like this, so it is left hanging loose and not wrapped around one of the shoulders. Whatever fits the meaning of letting the garment hang loose is what is intended in this hadith. As for the prayer, it is a valid prayer, because the prohibition of *sadal* does not necessitate that committing this prohibition invalidates the prayer. This is a rule that should be noted in the expressions of the Prophetic hadiths. There is a clear difference between the prohibition of a thing in prayer, and the prohibition of prayer in that thing. If he forbids, as in this hadith, *sadal* in prayer, one should refrain from it, but if one violates it, the prayer is valid, because he forbade *sadal* in prayer. However, if the expression were: "He forbade praying while letting the garment hang loose" or "letting the garment trail" or similar, then the prayer would be invalid, because he forbade the prayer itself if one does such a thing in it. But in our case, he only forbade *sadal*.
The second meaning is similar to the authentic hadith narrated by al-Bukhari in his *Sahih* from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: This is an example of what invalidates prayer if one violates what is forbidden. You will find with me that the prohibition here falls on the prayer, whereas the prohibition there falls on *sadal* in prayer. But here, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: : So whoever prays and has nothing of his *izar* (lower garment) on his shoulders, his prayer is invalid, as the Imam of the Sunnah, Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him), held.
God’s Messenger forbade trailing garments during prayer and that a man should cover his mouth
نهى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عن السدل في الصلاة، وأن يغطي الرجل فاهThe Shaykh : *Sadal* is this second meaning, and it relates to the garment, whether it is a cloak, a shirt, or a jacket. The important thing is that he does not put his hands in the sleeves of this garment, but rather throws it over his shoulders or his back.
Likewise, the garment that is like a *rida'* (cloak) or *izar* (lower garment) worn by pilgrims and those performing *'Umrah* is thrown like this, so it is left hanging loose and not wrapped around one of the shoulders. Whatever fits the meaning of letting the garment hang loose is what is intended in this hadith. As for the prayer, it is a valid prayer, because the prohibition of *sadal* does not necessitate that committing this prohibition invalidates the prayer. This is a rule that should be noted in the expressions of the Prophetic hadiths. There is a clear difference between the prohibition of a thing in prayer, and the prohibition of prayer in that thing. If he forbids, as in this hadith, *sadal* in prayer, one should refrain from it, but if one violates it, the prayer is valid, because he forbade *sadal* in prayer. However, if the expression were: "He forbade praying while letting the garment hang loose" or "letting the garment trail" or similar, then the prayer would be invalid, because he forbade the prayer itself if one does such a thing in it. But in our case, he only forbade *sadal*.
The second meaning is similar to the authentic hadith narrated by al-Bukhari in his *Sahih* from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: