Hijab during prayers
Question:
As I have heard that covering hair is not mandatory (according to some), so what is the position during prayers? what is the dress code for women in prayers and why are men not required to cover their hair in prayers?
Answer:
Some of the scholars who argue that hijab is not obligatory (and I agree with them) also argue that during the prayers too hijab is not obligatory (and I agree with them).
I do not consider hadith to be an independent source of deriving haram and halal. Nevertheless, many of the hadiths on hijab during the prayers are not authentic and those that are authentic in my understanding are not explicit enough to imply obligation of covering the head during the prayers. Note that if hijab was religiously obligatory, then it would have been the same for Muslim slaves as well. According to many jurists it is not. In fact according to some jurists it is forbidden for a slave women (Muslim or not) to cover their hair (during the prayers or other times).
We do not have a specific dress code for prayers however we are advised to dress well during the prayers as a sign of respect and modesty. Covering the head for women has always been a commanded religious culture at least in the Abrahamic religions. It therefore makes a perfect sense for a Muslim woman to cover her head during the prayers as a sign of respect. This however is not an obligation. It also makes perfect sense for a man to wear a dress that is considered respectful and extra modest, during his prayers. This too is not an obligation.
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Related Topics:
- Implication of the Word Khimar for HIjab
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Farhad Shafti
October 2018
As I have heard that covering hair is not mandatory (according to some), so what is the position during prayers? what is the dress code for women in prayers and why are men not required to cover their hair in prayers?
Answer:
Some of the scholars who argue that hijab is not obligatory (and I agree with them) also argue that during the prayers too hijab is not obligatory (and I agree with them).
I do not consider hadith to be an independent source of deriving haram and halal. Nevertheless, many of the hadiths on hijab during the prayers are not authentic and those that are authentic in my understanding are not explicit enough to imply obligation of covering the head during the prayers. Note that if hijab was religiously obligatory, then it would have been the same for Muslim slaves as well. According to many jurists it is not. In fact according to some jurists it is forbidden for a slave women (Muslim or not) to cover their hair (during the prayers or other times).
We do not have a specific dress code for prayers however we are advised to dress well during the prayers as a sign of respect and modesty. Covering the head for women has always been a commanded religious culture at least in the Abrahamic religions. It therefore makes a perfect sense for a Muslim woman to cover her head during the prayers as a sign of respect. This however is not an obligation. It also makes perfect sense for a man to wear a dress that is considered respectful and extra modest, during his prayers. This too is not an obligation.
--------
Related Topics:
- Implication of the Word Khimar for HIjab
-------
Farhad Shafti
October 2018
