What is the ruling on one who prays with his shoulders exposed?
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Question:
It is recommended that he repeat the prayer if he prayed with his shoulders exposed, provided he is able?
Answer:
If we hold that it is obligatory, then he must repeat the prayer if he did so intentionally. However, if he was ignorant, he may be excused. But if we hold that it is obligatory—as is the position of Ahmad and the majority—covering the two shoulders or one of them is obligatory, based on the hadith of Abu Hurayrah.
Q: Does he commit a sin...?
A: He commits a sin... if we hold that it is obligatory, which is the more apparent view and the more cautious one. This is because the default ruling for commands is obligation, and the default ruling for prohibitions is prohibition; this is the principle. Also, when people hear about recommended acts and believe them to be merely recommended, they tend to be lax. These are commands and prohibitions in which one should not be lax.
Q: The shoulder is not part of the awrah... his awrah is covered, and the shoulder is not part of it?
A: But the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded covering it when able, saying: as in "al-Sahihayn." One should combine these two.
Q: Who said: He commits a sin but does not repeat the prayer; because it is not an awrah?
A: The closest view—Allah knows best—is that if he did it intentionally and was lax, he should repeat the prayer. But if it was due to ignorance and the time has passed, the matter is more lenient.
It is recommended that he repeat the prayer if he prayed with his shoulders exposed, provided he is able?
Answer:
If we hold that it is obligatory, then he must repeat the prayer if he did so intentionally. However, if he was ignorant, he may be excused. But if we hold that it is obligatory—as is the position of Ahmad and the majority—covering the two shoulders or one of them is obligatory, based on the hadith of Abu Hurayrah.
Q: Does he commit a sin...?
A: He commits a sin... if we hold that it is obligatory, which is the more apparent view and the more cautious one. This is because the default ruling for commands is obligation, and the default ruling for prohibitions is prohibition; this is the principle. Also, when people hear about recommended acts and believe them to be merely recommended, they tend to be lax. These are commands and prohibitions in which one should not be lax.
Q: The shoulder is not part of the awrah... his awrah is covered, and the shoulder is not part of it?
A: But the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded covering it when able, saying:
If it is wide, let him wrap himself in it, and let him cross its two ends, and let none of you pray in a single garment with nothing of it on his shoulder—or: on his two shoulders.
فإن كان واسعًا فالتحف به، وخالف بين طرفيه، و لا يُصلِّ أحدُكم بالثوب الواحد ليس على عاتقه منه شيء –أو: عاتقيهQ: Who said: He commits a sin but does not repeat the prayer; because it is not an awrah?
A: The closest view—Allah knows best—is that if he did it intentionally and was lax, he should repeat the prayer. But if it was due to ignorance and the time has passed, the matter is more lenient.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.