Question:
Assalaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakaatuhu
Is it permissible for a woman to pray with her feet uncovered?
Answer:
Wa Alaikum us Salaam Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakaatuhu
Covering of the ‘Awrah is one of the conditions for valid prayer (salah); the salah is not valid except with the covering of the ‘Awrah. This applies for both males and females, whether the salah is performed in public or in private. It is incumbent on everyone in to cover the ‘Awrah in prayer.
This is due to the narration of Ibn Umar (ra) that the Prophet (saw) said:«إذا صلَّى أحدُكم فَلْيَتَّزِرْ ولْيَرتدِ» “When any one of you prays let them wear their lower garment (Izar) and top garment (Rida’)” (Narrated on the authority of Ibn Hibban, Ahmad, Al-Baihaqi, and Al-Tahawi)
On the authority of A’isha (ra) that the Prophet (saw) said:لا يقبل الله صلاة حائضٍ إلا بخمار» » “Allah will not accept the prayer of a woman who started to menstruate, except with a Khimar (headcover).” (Narrated on the authority of Ibn Majah, Ahmad, Abu Dawood, and Ibn Hibban)
The ‘Awrah of women constitute all of her body except for her face and hands. The evidence for this is:
By the authority of Ibn Ubai Sheebah in his book “Al-Musanaf” from Ibn Abbas:
((وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا)) “They do not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof” [Al-Noor: 31], he said: “her face and hands”.
On the authority of Baihaqi in his book “Al-Adab”: “That Allah ‘Azza wa Jal says:
((وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا)) , “They do not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof” [Al-Noor: 31], that As-Shafi’i (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “Except for her face and hands, and we narrated the meaning of this from A’isha (ra), Ibn Abbas and Ibn Umar.”
On the authority of Abu Dawood in his book “Maraseel” from Qatadah that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said: «إِنَّ الْجَارِيَةَ إِذَا حَاضَتْ لَمْ يَصْلُحْ أَنْ يُرَى مِنْهَا إِلَّا وَجْهُهَا ويداها إلى المفصل» “If the bondwoman (Al-Jariyah) starts to menstruate nothing is allowed to be seen of her except her face and hands up the wrist.”
What is understood from the previous evidences that all of the woman’s body is considered as ‘Awrah except for her face and hands, i.e. the feet are considered part of the ‘Awrah.
This is confirmed by the Ahadith of the Messenger (saw) from Umm Salamah (ra) that she asked the Prophet (saw) whether the woman can pray wearing a Dir’ (a long and wide garment that covers the body of the woman) and a khimar (headcover) without wearing a Izar (a lower garment) underneath? He (saw) said:«إِذَا كَانَ الدِّرْعُ سَابِغًا يُغَطِّي ظُهُورَ قَدَمَيْهَا» “If the Dir’ is long and wide so that it covers the body down to the external part of her feet.” Extracted by Al-Hakim and said: “This is a Sahih Hadith according to the conditions of Al-Bukhari but he did not extract it. It was corrected by Az-Zahabi in “Al-Talkhees” and he said, “It is according to the conditions of Al-Bukhari”.
Your brother,
Ata Bin Khalil Abu Al-Rashtah
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