Prayer clothing: the intimate zone (awra)

The prayer's clothing has a clear rule: cover the intimate zone (awra). The adornment demanded by Allah is not a luxury: "wear your adornment at every prayer" (7:31).

The man's awra in prayer

The jurists of the four schools agree: the man's awra goes from the navel to the knee. Two hadiths support it: Jarhad had his thigh uncovered before the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), who said: "the thigh is an intimate zone" (reported by at-Tirmidhi); and the Prophet said of the married slave: "he will look at nothing of her awra: what is under the navel down to the knee is an intimate zone" (reported by Abu Dawud). The free man and the slave are treated alike here; between men, looking beyond this zone is allowed when there is no need.

The woman's clothing in prayer

The woman covers her whole body in prayer, except the face and, according to the majority, the hands. 'Aisha reports: "Allah does not accept the prayer of a menstruating woman without a head-cover" (reported by Abu Dawud): the schools generalize the veil to every praying woman. The garment must be opaque and loose, not revealing the shape nor drawing attention.

The purity of the prayer garment

The prayer garment must be pure: an-Nawawi states by consensus that the prayer is not valid without purification of the body, the garment and the place. A well-known impurity stain forbids praying in that garment until washed; the tolerated traces are those the law excuses out of difficulty.

Practical note on prayer clothing

A dedicated prayer garment avoids many doubts: keep it clean, put it on complete, and pray. Careful attire honors the prayer: Allah is beautiful and loves beauty in His house and before His face.