The veil of the Muslim woman & her prayer garment, by Sheikh Al Islam Ibn Taymiyya, Commented and verified by Sheikh Al Albâni

This epistle is undoubtedly one of the most important writings of Sheikh Al-Islam . Indeed, despite its modest volume, concentrates abundant knowledge characterizing the extent of the knowledge of this scholar, may Allah have mercy on him. It could be that a student (in theology) does not find in encyclopaedias of jurisprudence what this (small) manuscript contains as information. The theme of this epistle is (the type of) garment which it is incumbent upon every man and every woman to put on during the performance of prayer. The author has demonstrated, with supporting evidence, that the garment in question is not simply that which a man usually wears to cover his nudity ( 'Awra ) outside his prayers. Much more, he indicated that it is a question of something else; it is a habit that would also cover the shoulders and this, out of respect for the prayer and out of respect for its sacredness and not because the shoulders are part of the private parts ( 'Awra ) to be preserved from the gaze of others. To support this statement, he evoked several hadith , including the word of the messenger of Allah - peace and greetings of Allah be upon him - following:

لا يصلين أحدكم في الثوب الواحد ليس على عاتقه منه شىء
"Let none of you perform the prayer in a single garment without a part of it covering (entirely) both of your shoulders" ( p.34,35 and 39) .

This question will remain of great importance as long as the majority of people continue to pray in a shirt ( Chiyâl ) which covers only more or less their shoulders, inattentive to the following word of Allah - The Most High -:

خذوا زينتكم عند كل مسجد
Wear your finery (your clothes) in each place of Salat" ( S.7 V.31) .