What is the ruling on a woman praying while wearing her abaya over her shoulder? I have received from your Eminence that the prayer is invalid in this case because it resembles men's clothing.
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The questioner : Another questioner says: O honorable Shaykh, what is the ruling on a woman praying while wearing her abaya over her shoulder? I have received from your Eminence that the prayer is invalid in this case because it resembles men's clothing?
The Shaykh : We seek help from Allah. This woman is also contrary to what women have spread, namely that we say: there is no harm in wearing the abaya over the shoulder, even if that is in the market and shops. Both matters are wrong. We say: it is permissible for a woman to place her abaya over her shoulders in prayer, because this is customary among women. It is not a characteristic of men such that we would say this falls under the category of imitating men. As for wearing the abaya over the shoulders in the markets and among people, that is not permissible, because wearing the abaya over the shoulders in the markets leads to revealing the size of her shoulders and neck. And whether she is tall or short—I mean the neck—so there is fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) in that. Then who can be safe if women are permitted to wear the abaya over the shoulder in the markets? Who can be safe that the matter will develop, and then women will start going out to the markets in the miqta' (cut-off), meaning in a shirt without an abaya, because women generally, when the small door is opened for them, it becomes a large door. And perhaps they will tear down the door entirely and enter without doors. Therefore, we say: placing the abaya over the shoulders in prayer is permissible and does not invalidate the prayer. As for walking with it in the markets, that is not permissible, because it leads to fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), and it is a means for women to expand in their clothing.
Yes.
The Shaykh : We seek help from Allah. This woman is also contrary to what women have spread, namely that we say: there is no harm in wearing the abaya over the shoulder, even if that is in the market and shops. Both matters are wrong. We say: it is permissible for a woman to place her abaya over her shoulders in prayer, because this is customary among women. It is not a characteristic of men such that we would say this falls under the category of imitating men. As for wearing the abaya over the shoulders in the markets and among people, that is not permissible, because wearing the abaya over the shoulders in the markets leads to revealing the size of her shoulders and neck. And whether she is tall or short—I mean the neck—so there is fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) in that. Then who can be safe if women are permitted to wear the abaya over the shoulder in the markets? Who can be safe that the matter will develop, and then women will start going out to the markets in the miqta' (cut-off), meaning in a shirt without an abaya, because women generally, when the small door is opened for them, it becomes a large door. And perhaps they will tear down the door entirely and enter without doors. Therefore, we say: placing the abaya over the shoulders in prayer is permissible and does not invalidate the prayer. As for walking with it in the markets, that is not permissible, because it leads to fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), and it is a means for women to expand in their clothing.
Yes.