What is the ruling on a woman covering her feet in prayer?
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The questioner : Regarding a woman covering her feet in prayer.
The Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner : So what is the ruling in this matter?
The Shaykh : If she stands, she must wear a long shirt that covers the feet. If the soles of her feet are exposed during prostration, for example, there is no harm in that. However, if her garment exposes the tops of her feet, that is not permissible. This is because the correct opinion among scholars is that a woman's feet are 'awrah (the part of the body that must be covered). Therefore, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered the woman to lengthen her garment by a handspan from above the ankles. When the question was raised that wind might blow and expose them, he said: "Increase it by another handspan." The total becomes an arm's length, and she should not exceed that. This is all clear evidence explaining the noble verse which says:[An-Nur 24:31]; because this adornment referred to the anklets that hang down to the level of the ankles or below them if they are wide, and that is to be covered by the garment.
The Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner : So what is the ruling in this matter?
The Shaykh : If she stands, she must wear a long shirt that covers the feet. If the soles of her feet are exposed during prostration, for example, there is no harm in that. However, if her garment exposes the tops of her feet, that is not permissible. This is because the correct opinion among scholars is that a woman's feet are 'awrah (the part of the body that must be covered). Therefore, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered the woman to lengthen her garment by a handspan from above the ankles. When the question was raised that wind might blow and expose them, he said: "Increase it by another handspan." The total becomes an arm's length, and she should not exceed that. This is all clear evidence explaining the noble verse which says:
And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment
وَلَا يَضْرِبْنَ بِأَرْجُلِهِنَّ لِيُعْلَمَ مَا يُخْفِينَ مِنْ زِينَتِهِنَّ
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.