The Ruling on Praying in Tight-Fitting Clothing
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Q234: The questioner asks: Is it permissible to pray in tight-fitting clothing, for both women and men? Also, if a woman wears a light garment that does not reveal her 'awrah (part of the body that must be covered), what is the ruling of the Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law) in that case?
A234: Tight-fitting clothes that reveal the limbs of the body, the shape of a woman’s body, and the contours of her body are not permissible to wear, neither for men nor for women, but it is more severe for women. As for the prayer itself, if a person prays and his 'awrah is covered, his prayer is valid because of the covering of the 'awrah. However, one who prays in tight-fitting clothing commits a sin because he may compromise some of the conditions of the prayer due to the tightness of the clothing. This is from one aspect, as we mentioned, that tightness reveals the limbs of the body and becomes a cause of temptation and distraction of attention. Therefore, it is obligatory, especially for the woman, that she cover herself with a garment that covers her, does not reveal any part of her body, does not draw attention to her, and is not a light or transparent garment. Rather, it must be a covering garment that covers the woman completely, so that nothing of her body is seen, it does not expose her legs or arms, and she does not expose her face by revealing it. Rather, she must cover her entire body,
and it must not be transparent such that her body or anything else is seen through it, for this is not considered a covering garment. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said in the authentic hadith:Sahih Muslim 2128 or as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said. The meaning of "naked yet clothed" is that they are wearing clothes, but these clothes are in reality for the sake of covering; they are merely formal attire, but they do not cover what is behind them, either because of their transparency, or because of their shortness and not staying on the body. Therefore, women must be mindful of this.
A234: Tight-fitting clothes that reveal the limbs of the body, the shape of a woman’s body, and the contours of her body are not permissible to wear, neither for men nor for women, but it is more severe for women. As for the prayer itself, if a person prays and his 'awrah is covered, his prayer is valid because of the covering of the 'awrah. However, one who prays in tight-fitting clothing commits a sin because he may compromise some of the conditions of the prayer due to the tightness of the clothing. This is from one aspect, as we mentioned, that tightness reveals the limbs of the body and becomes a cause of temptation and distraction of attention. Therefore, it is obligatory, especially for the woman, that she cover herself with a garment that covers her, does not reveal any part of her body, does not draw attention to her, and is not a light or transparent garment. Rather, it must be a covering garment that covers the woman completely, so that nothing of her body is seen, it does not expose her legs or arms, and she does not expose her face by revealing it. Rather, she must cover her entire body,
and it must not be transparent such that her body or anything else is seen through it, for this is not considered a covering garment. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said in the authentic hadith:
AbU Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) having said this: Two are the types of the denizens of Hell whom I did not see: people having flogs like the tails of the ox with them and they would be beating people, and the women who would be dressed but appear to be naked, who would be inclined (to evil) and make their husbands incline towards it. Their heads would be like the humps of the bukht camel inclined to one side. They will not enter Paradise and they would not smell its odour whereas its odour would be smelt from such and such distance.
صنفان من أمتي لم أرهما، رجال معهم سياط كأذناب البقر، يضربون بها الناس، ونساء كاسيات عاريات، مائلات مميلات، لا يدخلن الجنة، ولا يجدن ريحها
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.