Prayer Attire: Tank Tops And Religious Sensitivities

There are differing opinions on whether it is acceptable to pray while wearing a tank top. Some sources state that it is permissible for men to pray in a vest or undershirt, as long as it is clean and covers the 'awrah' (the area between the navel and the knee). However, other sources suggest that it is considered disrespectful and inappropriate to pray in a tank top, as one should dress appropriately when standing before Allah. It is recommended to wear nice, clean garments and to adorn oneself for prayer out of respect for Allah.

For men, covering the area between the navel and the knee is sufficient for prayer

For Muslim men, the act of prayer, or Salah, is associated with certain conditions regarding the validity of the prayer and the adornment of the person praying. One such condition is the covering of the 'Awrah', or the parts of the body that must be concealed during prayer.

The 'Awrah' for men is the area between the navel and the knee. The navel and the knee are not part of the 'Awrah' and do not need to be covered. This is the most prominent view of the madhhab of Imam Ahmad, the Shafi'is, and the Malikis. Abu Hanifa agreed that the navel is not part of the 'Awrah', and some scholars also include the knee in this category.

Therefore, for men, covering the area between the navel and the knee is sufficient for prayer. However, it is considered more respectful to wear nicer clothes or a garment that covers the lower body and the head. This is because Allah says, "O Children of Adam, take your adornment (by wearing your clean clothes) while praying." (Al-A'raf 7:31)

It is deemed better to wear nice clothes for prayer, to adorn oneself for Allah

It is important to wear proper clothing during prayer, as it is one of the conditions for the prayer to be accepted. The clothes must be ritually clean and the person praying must own or have permission to use them. Wearing other people's clothes without their permission, even to the extent of a single thread, is forbidden and invalidates the prayer.

The importance of wearing nice clothes for prayer is also emphasised in the Quran and hadith. In Surah Al-A'raf, Allah says:

> "O Children of Adam! Wear your beautiful apparel at every time and place of prayer." [Al-A'raf 7:31]

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said:

> "When one of you prays, let him wear his two garments, for Allah is more deserving that you should adorn yourself for Him." (Narrated by Al-Bayhaqi, 2/235; and classed as authentic by Al-Albani in As-Silsilah As-Sahihah, 1369)

Sayyiduna Umar Ibn Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, once saw a man praying in undignified clothes. He asked the man if he would wear those clothes if he were visiting important people, to which the man replied that he would not. Umar then told him:

> "Allah is more deserving that you embellish yourself for Him." [Bayhaqi]

Thus, it is deemed better to wear nice clothes for prayer, to adorn oneself for Allah. This shows our attention to and respect for prayer, and it is a sign of our desire to please our Lord. We should want to look presentable to Allah, just as we would want to look our best when meeting important people or attending special events.

Wearing a tank top for prayer may be considered disrespectful

While it may be permissible for men to pray in a tank top if the area between the navel and the knee is covered, some scholars deem it inappropriate to pray in clothes that one would not wear when visiting important people. This is based on the idea that one should dress respectfully and adorn oneself for prayer, as Allah is more deserving of our best presentation than anyone else.

In a response to a similar question on a religious forum, a user shared the following advice from their parents:

> "Let's say you were to come up to your teacher in a tank top, that would be disrespectful. Now think if Allah was standing in front of you when you are wearing a tank top (he is when we pray), that would be very disrespectful."

Another user on the same forum added:

> "We should want to look presentable to Allah too, we can spare up to over an hour sometimes, making sure we look good for an event or outing, what's taking a few minutes extra to make sure we look good in nice, clean garments for Allah?"

While it may not be explicitly prohibited for men to pray in a tank top, the consensus seems to be that it is not the best option. It is recommended to wear better clothes in front of Allah than one would usually wear, as an act of respect and adornment.

Wearing a half-sleeved shirt or vest for prayer is disliked, but not if no other clothes are available

For men, wearing a half-sleeved shirt or vest for prayer is generally disliked in Islam. However, if no other clothes are available, then it is not considered a dislike. While it is not obligatory for men to cover their shoulders or shoulder blades during prayer, it is considered more respectful and adornable to do so. This is based on the interpretation of the meaning of Allah's words: "O Children of Adam! Take your adornment (by wearing your clean clothes) while praying."

The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) also said: “When one of you prays, let him wear his two garments, for Allah is more deserving that you should adorn yourself for Him." This highlights the importance of dressing appropriately and respectfully when standing before Allah in prayer.

It is worth noting that the minimum requirement for men to cover during prayer is the area between the navel and the knee. As long as this area is covered, the prayer is still considered valid. However, wearing a more modest and respectful attire is encouraged.

In conclusion, while wearing a half-sleeved shirt or vest for prayer is generally disliked, it is not a requirement to have other clothes available for it to be acceptable. Ultimately, the validity of the prayer is more important than the specific attire, as long as the minimum requirements of covering the 'awrah are met.

A woman’s awrah, the part of the body that should be covered, is her whole body except the face, hands and feet

In Islam, the term 'awrah refers to the intimate parts of the body that should be covered. The 'awrah of a woman is her whole body except for the face, hands, and feet. This means that during ritual prayer, a woman should cover her entire body, including her hair, but excluding her face and hands.

In front of her mahram male relatives, such as her father, brother, or nephew, a woman's 'awrah is her entire body except for the face, hair, neck, forearms, and feet. In front of other women, a woman's 'awrah is the same as a man's, from the navel to the knee.

In front of non-mahram men, or non-Muslim women, the correct opinion is that a woman can only show her face and hands. However, according to some scholars, a woman must cover everything, including her face and hands, in front of non-mahram men.

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