HOW SHALL A LADY COVER HER BODY WHILE OBSERVING SALAT?

By. Allama Abdul Aziz Bin Abdullah Bin Baz

 

QUESTION: Many ladies carelessly keep their both arms or part of it and /or leg and chin or part of it open during Salat? Is this correct and proper in this condition?

Answer: For a responsible and free lady, it is necessary to cover her entire body, except both palms and the face during the Salat because a woman is entirely a seclusion. Her Salat will not be deemed as correct and proper, if she observes it by uncovering any part of her body e.g. shin, leg and head etc. The Prophet (S.A.W.) has informed “Allah does not accept the prayer of a woman who has reached puberty unless she wears a veil” (This Hadith is reported by sound chain of authority).

He also said: “A woman by all means is a veil”.

And Abu Daud recorded from Umme Salmah that “She asked the Prophet (S.A.W.) can a women pray in a shirt a veil without wearing a lower garment? He replied: “If the shirt is ample and covers the surface of her feet”.

Hafiz Ibne Hajar (may Allah’s mercy on him) writes in “Bulughul Maram” that ‘aimmah (poineers of Hadith) endorsed the correctness of the fact that this Hadith is Mauqof (stopped) at umme Salmah (may Allah be happy with her).

Also, covering the face and the palms is also necessary if any unfamiliar male happens to be in the vicinity of the lady.

SHALL A LADY OBSERVE SALATUZ-ZUHAR TOO IF SHE COMES CLEAR FROM MENSTRUATION AT THE TIME OF A’SAR, AND SHALL SHE OBSERVE SALATUL MAGHRIB TOO IF SHE COMES CLEAR AT THE TIME OF ‘ISHA?