COVERING OF THE BODY FROM NAVEL TO KNEES

Q1:What does"Satr-e-Aurat"mean?

1. "Satr-e-Aurat" means to cover those parts of the body which are necessarily covered during prayer.

 

Q2: Whichparts ofthe bodyare to becovered byman andwoman during prayer?

1. It is obligatory (Fard) upon man to cover himself from the navel to the knees (exclusive of navel and inclusive of knees) and woman (not slave-girl) to cover her entire body except face, palms and soles of the feet. Her hair (plaited on the back or loose), neck and wrists are also included in "Satr-e-Aurat". The face of woman is not included in Satr-e-Aurat but even then it should not be exposed to strangers.

 

Q3: Willprayer be inorderornotifanycoveredpartofthebodygetsexposed?

1. Prayer will be in order if any covered part of the body (Satr-e-Aurat) gets exposed less than l/4th or gets exposed more than l/4th but is immediately covered. In case, the covering of the exposed part is delayed for such an interval that one could easily say "Subhaan Allah" thrice or any part was deliberately exposed even though covered immediately, the prayer will go void in such condition.

 

Q4:Whatinjunctionisthereforapersonwhoisindarknessandoffersprayer naked?

1. Prayer will not be lawful if one offers naked even in a lonely house in darkness despite possessing a piece of cloth to cover his "Satr-e-Aurat". There is a consensus of Muslim scholars on "Satr-e-Aurat" for prayer sans any exception.

Q5:Is"Satr-e-Aurat"tobeobservedeveninloneliness?

1. The observance of Satr-e-Aurat is Waajib (essential) in all conditions (within or without the prayerevenoneisalone).ItshouldnotbeexposedinlonelinessunlesspermittedbytheShari'ah.

Q6: Whatshould onedo if hehas nocloth for Satr-e-Aurat?

1. He who has no cloth to cover necessary parts of his body should use whatever is available for the purpose like hessian, grass, leaves etc. and even any of these things is not possible then it is better for him to offer prayer in sitting posture and gesture for Rukoo and Sujood (bowing and prostrations) placing hands on his private parts.

 

Q7: Can a naked man use silk or not?

1. If one has no cloth for Satr-e-Aurat except silk then he should use it for prayer, otherwise silk is Haraam(unlawful) for men and prayer in silk is "MakroohTahreemi" (odious and will have to be repeated).

 

Q8:CanthinclothbeusedforSatr-e-Aurat?

1. Wearing so thin cloth(s) that the body looks through (see-through dress) is Haraam for both man and woman. Prayer will not be lawful in such dress. Even the hair of woman should not look-through from her sheet of cloth in which she is wrapped-up.