5- CLOTHING ONE’S NAKEDNESS
Clothing one’s nakedness (from the eyes of men as well as jinn and angels, for these too see people in this world) is obligatory, by scholarly consensus (ijma’), even when alone, except when there is need to undress.
(Zarkashi states (and it is the authoritative position for the school) that the nakedness it is obligatory to clothe when alone consists solely of the front and rear private parts for men, and of that which is between the navel and the knees for women.)
Clothing one’s nakedness is a necessary condition for the validity of the prayer (when one is able).
Seeing a hole in one’s clothes after a prayer is like seeing a spot of filth (meaning the prayer must be repeated, unless one covers the hole immediately).
The nakedness of a man (man meaning the counterpart of the female, including young boys, even if not yet of the age of discrimination) consists of the area between the navel and knees.
The nakedness of a woman (even if a young girl) consists of the whole body except the face and hands.
(The nakedness of women is that which invalidates the prayer if exposed. As for looking at women, it is not permissible to look at any part of a woman who is neither a member of one’s unmarriageable kin (mahram) nor one’s wife, as is discussed below in the book of marriage.)
It is a necessary condition that one’s clothing:
a) Prevent the colour of the skin from being perceptible (Nawawi notes, “A thin garment beneath which the blackness or whiteness of the skin may be seen is not sufficient, nor a garment of thick, gauzelike fabric through which part of the nakedness appears” (al-Majmu’ (y108), 3.170»;
b) Enclose the body as a garment, for a prayer performed without clothes in a small tent would not be valid;
c) And conceal the nakedness from view on all sides and above, though it need not do so from below.
One’s prayer is valid when there is a tear through which one’s nakedness shows that one covers with one’s hand (A: immediately, i.e. one must do so before enough time passes to say “Subhan Allah’) (that is, one must cover it with one’s hand when not prostrating, at which point not covering it is excusable).
It is recommended for a woman to wear a covering over her head (khimar), a full length shift, and a heavy slip under it that doesn’t cling to the body. (She should not wrap it so tightly about herself that it hinders standing, sitting, and other postures connected with the actions of prayer. She is recommended to pray in three garments even though the head cover and shift alone are sufficient as a covering.)
It is recommended for a man to pray in his best clothes, and to wear an ankle-length shirt and a turban (and a shawl over head and shoulders, a mantle, and a wraparound or loose drawers (under the ankle-length shirt». If he does not wear all of these, it is desirable to wear two, namely the ankle-length shirt with either the man tie, the wraparound, or the loose drawers.
If only wearing enough to clothe one’s nakedness, one’s prayer is valid, though it is recommended to place something on one’s shoulders, even if only a piece of rope.
If one does not have clothes but is able to conceal part of one’s nakedness, one must cover the front and rear private parts. If only one of these two can be covered, it must be the front. If one has no clothes at all, then one performs the prayer without clothes and need not make it up later.
(Source: The reliance of the traveller, revised edition, Edited and Translated by Nuh Ha Mim Keller)
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