Important Fataawaa related to the Salaah - Sh `Abdul-`Azeez bin Baaz

[Yusuf.McNulty.al.Irlandee]

Question:

Many women are negligent during the prayer, unveiling their forearms or a part of them, likewise unveiling their feet or even some of their shins. Is their prayer valid in this case?


Sh `Abdul-`Azeez Ibn Baaz:

It is binding upon the woman who is free (not enslaved) and accountable (i.e has reached puberty and is mentally sane) to cover all of her body in the prayer, except for her face and hands. This is because all of her body is an `awrah, so if she were to pray and something of her `awrah were to become uncovered, such as her foot, shin, head, or a part of her head, then her prayer would not be valid [1] due to the statement of the Prophet – sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam, "Allaah does not accept the prayer of a Haa’id except with a khimaar[2]." Reported by Ahmad and Ahlus-Sunan except for an-Nasaa’ee, with an authentic chain of narration [3], and the meaning of Haa’id is: A female who has attained puberty [4].

Also the statement of the Prophet – sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam, "The woman is an `awrah." [5], as well as what was narrated by Aboo Daawood – rahimahullaah, upon the authority of Umm Salamah – radiyallaahu `anhaa, that she asked the Prophet – sallalllaahu `alayhi wasallam, about a woman who prays in a long upper garment and khimaar, but without a lower garment, so he replied, "Only if the upper garment is long enough and covers the top of her feet." al-Haafidh Ibn Hajr – rahimahullaah, said about this hadeeth in Bulooghul-Maraam, “The Imaams (of Hadeeth) have authenticated it as a statement of Umm Salamah.” [6]

Futhermore, if she were to pray in the presence of an Ajnabee [7], then she would need to cover her face and hands also [8].


- Translated by Yusuf McNulty
- Fataawaa Muhim-mah Ta-ta`al-laqu bis-Salaah
- Question no. 10, page 13-14


[1] Translator’s Note:

Sh Muhammad Ibn Saalih al-`Uthaymeen - rahimahullaah, said in Sharhul-Mumti` (vol.2, pg.171): "If someone was praying and a large amount of his `awrah became uncovered, yet he covered it again quickly; his prayer would not be nullified. An example of this would be if there was a gust of wind whilst someone was in rukoo`, and as a result his garment (was lifted), unveiling (his `awrah), but he quickly managed to put it back down; what's correct here is that the prayer would not be nullified, due to the fact that he covered his `awrah in a short amount of time, and he did not intend to uncover his `awrah in the first place. Allaah has said (the meaning of): <<And fear Allaah as much as you are able>> [End of quote]

[2] Translator’s Note:

A khimaar, commonly known as a headscarf, is something used by a woman to cover her head and neck, as mentioned by the Noble Shaykh `Abdullaah Aal-Bassaam – rahimahullaah, in Tawdeehul-Ahkaam (vol.2, pg.9)

[3] Reported by Ahmad, Aboo Daawood, at-Tirmidhee and Ibn Maajah, graded Saheeh (authentic) by Sh al-Albaanee - rahimahullaah, in Saheehul-Jaami` no.7747

[4] Translator’s Note:

The signs of reaching puberty/accountability for both male and female are: Emission of semen, growth of pubic hair, reaching the age of 15 and, in the case of females only, having a menstrual cycle (period). If any one of these occur then adulthood and accountability begins. This is mentioned by Sh `Abdullaah Aal-Bassaam – rahimahullaah, in Tawdeehul-Ahkaaam (vol.2, pg.10).

[5] Reported by at-Tirmidhee and graded Saheeh (authentic) by Sh al-Albaanee – rahimahullaah, in Saheehul-Jaami` (no.6690).

[6] Reported by Aboo Daawood, however it was graded Da`eef (weak) by Sh al-Albaanee – rahimahullaah, in Da`eef Sunan Abee Daawood (no.98 and 99).

[7] Translator’s Note:

An Ajnabee is someone who is not a Mahram. A Mahram is a person who you cannot marry, so in the case of a woman it would be her father, grandfather, brother, son, etc.

[8] Translator’s Note:

Sh Ibn Baaz – rahimahullaah, was of the opinion that the face and hands of a woman are also her `awrah, therefore in the situation mentioned she would need to cover them by way of a niqaab and gloves.