What Garments Are Permissible for Prayer and What Garments Are Not

هَذَا مِنْ عَمَلِ قَوْمِ لُوطٍ فَقُلْتُ إِنَّهُ يَتَوَشَّحُ فَوْقَ الْقَمِيصِ‌[3] قَالَ هَذَا مِنَ التَّجَبُّرِ قُلْتُ إِنَّ الْقَمِيصَ رَقِيقٌ يَلْتَحِفُ بِهِ قَالَ هُوَ وَ حَلُّ الْأَزْرَارِ فِي الصَّلَاةِ وَ الْخَذْفُ بِالْحَصَى‌[4] وَ مَضْغُ الْكُنْدُرِ فِي الْمَجَالِسِ وَ عَلَى ظَهْرِ الطَّرِيقِ مِنْ عَمَلِ قَوْمِ لُوطٍ. وَ قَدْ رَوَيْتُ رُخْصَةً فِي التَّوَشُّحِ بِالْإِزَارِ فَوْقَ الْقَمِيصِ عَنِ الْعَبْدِ الص

Hadith.799 - Ziyad ibn al-Mundhir narrated from Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) that a man, while in his presence, asked about a person who exits the bathhouse or performs a ritual bath, then wraps himself and wears a shirt over his lower garment and prays in this manner. Imam (as) said: "This is from the actions o

لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ‌[1].

Hadith.800 - Abdullah ibn Bukayr asked Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) about a man praying while letting the sides of his garment hang loose. Imam (as) said: "There is no issue with it”.

يَضَعُ ثَوْبَهُ تَحْتَ جَبْهَتِهِ‌[2].

Hadith.801 - Abu Basir asked Him about a man praying in extreme heat and fearing for his forehead due to the hot ground. Imam (as) replied: "He should place his garment beneath his forehead”.

لَهُ‌ إِنِّي أَخْرُجُ فِي هَذَا الْوَجْهِ وَ رُبَّمَا لَمْ يَكُنْ مَوْضِعٌ أُصَلِّي فِيهِ مِنَ الثَّلْجِ فَكَيْفَ أَصْنَعُ قَالَ إِنْ أَمْكَنَكَ أَنْ لَا تَسْجُدَ عَلَى الثَّلْجِ فَلَا تَسْجُدْ عَلَيْهِ وَ إِنْ لَمْ يُمْكِنْكَ فَسَوِّهِ وَ اسْجُدْ عَلَيْهِ.

Hadith.802 - Dawud Al-Sarmi asked Abu Al-Hasan Imam Ali ibn Muhammad Al-Hadi (as) about going on a journey where there may be no place to pray except on snow. How should he pray in such a case? Imam (as) replied: "If you can avoid prostrating on the snow, then do not prostrate on it. But if it is not possible, then lev

وَ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ أَبِي مَحْمُودٍ[4] لِلرِّضَا ع‌ الرَّجُلُ يُصَلِّي عَلَى سَرِيرٍ مِنْ سَاجٍ وَ يَسْجُدُ عَلَى السَّاجِ قَالَ نَعَمْ‌[5].

Hadith.803 - Ibrahim ibn Abi Mahmoud said to Imam Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha (as) about a man who prays on a bed made of teakwood and prostrates on the teakwood itself. Imam (as) replied: "Yes, there is no issue”.

وَ رَوَى مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع أَنَّهُ قَالَ- لَا بَأْسَ بِالصَّلَاةِ عَلَى الْبُورِيَاءِ وَ الْخَصَفَةِ وَ كُلِّ نَبَاتٍ إِلَّا الثَّمَرَةَ[6].

Hadith.804 - Muhammad ibn Muslim narrated from Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) that He said: "There is no issue with praying on mats made from reeds or on palm-leaf mats, and on any plant-based material, except for fruit”.

«أَمَّا أَكْلُ لَحْمِهَا فَإِنَّا نَكْرَهُهُ وَ أَمَّا اَلْجُلُودُ فَارْكَبُوا عَلَيْهَا وَ لاَ تَلْبَسُوا مِنْهَا شَيْئاً تُصَلُّونَ فِيهِ.

Hadith.805 - Sama’a ibn Mehran asked Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) regarding eating the meat of wild animals, including birds and other beasts. Imam responded, "As for eating their meat, we dislike it, but as for their skins, you may use them to ride on but do not wear anything made from them for prayer."

رَأَيْتُ الرِّضَا ع يُصَلِّي فِي جُبَّةِ خَزٍّ.

Hadith.806 - It has been narrated from Sulayman ibn Ja'far al-Ja'fari that He said: "I saw Imam Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha (as) praying in a silk cloak (jubbah made of khazz)."

رَأَيْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ الثَّانِيَ ع يُصَلِّي الْفَرِيضَةَ وَ غَيْرَهَا فِي جُبَّةِ خَزٍّ طَارُونِيٍ‌[3] وَ كَسَانِي جُبَّةَ خَزٍّ وَ ذَكَرَ أَنَّهُ لَبِسَهَا عَلَى بَدَنِهِ وَ صَلَّى فِيهَا وَ أَمَرَنِي بِالصَّلَاةِ فِيهَا.

Hadith.807 - Ali ibn Mahziyar narrated: "I saw Abu Ja'far al-Thani (Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Jawad (as)) praying both the obligatory and non-obligatory prayers in a cloak made of fine silk fabric (khazz taruni). He gave me a cloak made of khazz, informed me that he had worn it on his body and prayed in it, and instruct

كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ الثَّانِي ع فِي السِّنْجَابِ وَ الْفَنَكِ وَ الْخَزِّ وَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أُحِبُّ أَنْ لَا تُجِيبَنِي بِالتَّقِيَّةِ فِي ذَلِكَ فَكَتَبَ بِخَطِّهِ إِلَيَّ صَلِّ فِيهَا.

Hadith.808 - It was narrated from Yahya ibn Abi Imran that He said: ‘I wrote to Abu Ja'far al-Thani (Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Jawad (as)) concerning clothing made from squirrel (sanjab), mink (fanak), and silk (khazz), and I said: 'May I be your ransom, I would like you not to respond with dissimulation (taqiyya) regar

سَأَلَ رَجُلٌ أَبَا اَلْحَسَنِ اَلثَّالِثَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ عَنِ اَلصَّلاَةِ فِي اَلْخَزِّ يُغَشُّ بِوَبَرِ اَلْأَرَانِبِ فَكَتَبَ «يَجُوزُ ذَلِكَ.

Hadith.809 - It was narrated from Dawud al-Sarmi that a man asked Abu al-Hasan al-Thalith (Imam Ali ibn Muhammad Al-Hadi (as)), about praying in silk (khazz) that is mixed with rabbit fur. The Imam wrote in response: "That is permissible."

وَ كَتَبَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ مَهْزِيَارَ إِلَى أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ الْحَسَنِ ع‌ يَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ الصَّلَاةِ فِي الْقِرْمِزِ فَإِنَّ أَصْحَابَنَا يَتَوَقَّوْنَ‌[2] عَنِ الصَّلَاةِ فِيهِ فَكَتَبَ لَا بَأْسَ مُطْلَقٌ وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ.

Hadith.810 - Ibrahim ibn Mahziyar wrote to Abu Muhammad Imam Hasan ibn Ali (as), asking about praying in garments dyed with crimson (qirmaz), saying, "Our companions avoid praying in it." The Imam wrote back: "There is no problem with it at all, and all praise is due to Allah (swt)."

وَ كَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ: فِي اَلرَّجُلِ يَجْعَلُ فِي جُبَّتِهِ بَدَلَ اَلْقُطْنِ قَزّاً هَلْ يُصَلِّي فِيهِ فَكَتَبَ «نَعَمْ لاَ بَأْسَ بِهِ."

Hadith.811 - He (Ibrahim ibn Mahziyar) wrote to Imam Abu Muhammad al-Hasan (as) asking about a man who replaces cotton in his cloak with qazz (a type of silk): "Can he pray in it?" Imam (as) replied: "Yes, there is no problem with it."

وَ رَوَى يُوسُفُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْهُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ- لَا بَأْسَ بِالثَّوْبِ أَنْ يَكُونَ سَدَاهُ وَ زِرُّهُ وَ عَلَمُهُ حَرِيراً وَ إِنَّمَا يُكْرَهُ الْحَرِيرُ الْمُبْهَمُ لِلرِّجَالِ‌[2].

Hadith.812 - Yusuf ibn Muhammad ibn Ibrahim narrated from the Imam (as) that He said: "There is no issue if a garment's warp, buttons, or trim is made of silk; what is disliked for men is pure silk (mubham)”.

لَا بَأْسَ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ مِنْ دِيبَاجِ الْكَعْبَةِ فَيَجْعَلَهُ غِلَافَ مُصْحَفٍ أَوْ يَجْعَلَهُ مُصَلًّى يُصَلَّى عَلَيْهِ.

Hadith.813 - It was narrated from Mus'ab ibn Abdul Malik al-Basri that He said: "There is no issue in taking (a piece) from the silk covering of the Ka’ba and using it as a cover for a Quran or making it into a prayer mat to pray upon."

فِي اَلثَّوْبِ اَلْمُعْلَمِ فَكَرِهَ مَا فِيهِ مِنَ اَلتَّمَاثِيلِ.

Hadith.814 - Muhammad ibn Ismail ibn Bazi' asked Abu Al-Hasan Imam Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha (as), about praying in a garment with patterns (decorations), and the Imam disliked it if it contained images (representations).

لَا بَأْسَ مَا لَمْ تَعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ مَيْتَةٌ[2].

Hadith.815 - Sama’a ibn Mehran asked Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) about wearing a sword during prayer that has glue or leather (adhesive substances, such as glue made from animal parts) on it. Imam (as) replied: "There is no problem as long as you do not know that it is from a dead (non-slaughtered) animal”.

لَا بَأْسَ.

Hadith.816 - Ali ibn al-Rayan ibn al-Salt asked Imam Abu al-Hasan al-Thalith (as) about a man who cuts his hair or trims his nails and then proceeds to prayer without shaking the remnants off his clothes. The Imam said: "There is no issue (no problem)."

«لاَ يَضُرُّهُ.

Hadith.817 - Yunus ibn Ya'qub asked Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) about a man praying while wearing a burṭulah (a type of hat or head covering). The Imam said: "It does not harm him (there is no issue)."

وَ رَوَى عَمَّارٌ السَّابَاطِيُّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَنَّهُ قَالَ- مَنْ خَرَجَ فِي سَفَرٍ فَلَمْ يُدِرِ الْعِمَامَةَ تَحْتَ حَنَكِهِ فَأَصَابَهُ أَلَمٌ لَا دَوَاءَ لَهُ فَلَا يَلُومَنَّ إِلَّا نَفْسَهُ‌[2].

Hadith.818 - Ammar al-Sabati narrated from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) that He said: "Whoever goes out on a journey without wrapping the turban under his chin and suffers from an ailment for which there is no remedy, let him blame none but himself”.

ضَمِنْتُ لِمَنْ خَرَجَ مِنْ بَيْتِهِ مُعْتَمّاً تَحْتَ حَنَكِهِ أَنْ يَرْجِعَ إِلَيْهِمْ سَالِماً

وَ قَالَ ع‌ إِنِّي لَأَعْجَبُ مِمَّنْ يَأْخُذُ فِي حَاجَةٍ وَ هُوَ عَلَى وُضُوءٍ كَيْفَ لَا تُقْضَى حَاجَتُهُ وَ إِنِّي لَأَعْجَبُ مِمَّنْ يَأْخُذُ فِي حَاجَةٍ وَ هُوَ مُعْتَمٌّ تَحْتَ حَنَكِهِ كَيْفَ لَا تُقْضَى حَاجَتُهُ.

Hadith.820 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as), said: "I am amazed by one who goes about seeking to fulfil a need while in a state of ritual purity (wudu) — how is it that his need is not met? And I am amazed by one who seeks to fulfil a need while wearing his turban wrapped under his chin — how is it that his need

وَقَالَ اَلنَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: «اَلْفَرْقُ بَيْنَ اَلْمُسْلِمِينَ وَ اَلْمُشْرِكِينَ اَلتَّلَحِّي بِالْعَمَائِمِ.

Hadith.821 - The Prophet, said: "The distinction between the Muslims and the polytheists is the wearing of turbans."

وَ قَدْ نَقَلَ عَنْهُ ص أَهْلُ الْخِلَافِ أَيْضاً أَنَّهُ أَمَرَ بِالتَّلَحِّي وَ نَهَى عَنِ الِاقْتِعَاطِ[3].

Hadith.822 - It has also been reported from the Messenger, by those outside the Shi'a tradition that he commanded the wearing of turbans (tallaḥḥi) and forbade wrapping without a tail (iqti'āṭ).

لَا بَأْسَ بِذَلِكَ. وَ فِي رِوَايَةِ الْحَلَبِيِ‌ إِذَا سَمِعَ‌

Hadith.823 - Al-Halabi and Abdullah ibn Sinan asked Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) whether a man may recite during prayer with his garment covering his mouth. The Imam said: "There is no issue with that." In another narration by Al-Halabi, it is added: "As long as he can hear his murmuring (sound of his recitati

«نَعَمْ إِذَا كَانَتْ خِرْقَتُهُ طَاهِرَةً وَ كَانَ مُتَوَضِّئاً وَ لاَ بَأْسَ بِأَنْ تُصَلِّيَ اَلْمَرْأَةُ وَ هِيَ مُخْتَضِبَةٌ وَ يَدَاهَا مَرْبُوطَتَانِ.

Hadith.824 - Rifa'ah ibn Musa asked Abu Al-Hasan Imam Musa ibn Jafar Al-Kadhim (as) about a person who is dyed (with henna or similar) and whether they can pray while in this state if they are able to perform prostration and recitation. Imam (as) replied: "Yes, as long as their cloth (used during the process) is pure a

إِذَا أَبْرَزُوا الْفَمَ وَ الْمَنْخِرَ فَلَا بَأْسَ‌[3].

Hadith.825 - Ali ibn Ja'far and Ali ibn Yaqtin asked Abu Al-Hasan Imam Musa ibn Jafar Al-Kadhim (as) about whether a man and a woman may pray while dyed with henna or wasmah (a type of dye). Imam (as) said: "If they expose the mouth and nostrils, there is no problem."

إِنْ أَخْرَجَ يَدَيْهِ فَهُوَ حَسَنٌ وَ إِنْ لَمْ يُخْرِجْ يَدَيْهِ فَلَا بَأْسَ.

Hadith.826 - Muhammad ibn Muslim asked Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) about a man praying without taking his hands out of his garment. The Imam said: "If he takes his hands out, it is good, but if he does not, there is no issue (no problem)."

لَا بَأْسَ‌[4] أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ أَحَدُكُمْ فِي الثَّوْبِ الْوَاحِدِ وَ أَزْرَارُهُ مَحْلُولَةٌ إِنَّ دِينَ مُحَمَّدٍ ص حَنِيفٌ.

Hadith.827 - Ziyad ibn Suqah narrated from Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) that He said: "There is no issue if one of you prays in a single garment with its buttons undone. Indeed, the religion of Muhammad (sw) is upright (easy and straightforward)."