Prayer is not acceptable without a veil!
Prayer is essential in Islam, the second of the Five Pillars. As one of the central activities a practicing Muslims engages in, it’s critical that prayer is performed correctly. This means adhering to specific guidelines and requirements – particularly for a Muslim woman post-puberty who wants ensure her prayer is accepted when she stands before Allah.
From how to stand, to what posture to adopt, prayer should be filled with humility and cleanliness, and part of that includes wearing a veil when performing prayer. For a Muslim woman who has reached her age of menstruation, it’s important that she covers the areas of her body that require shielding in order for prayer to be deemed valid. Here is an excerpt from our recent book, ‘Islam the Beautiful’, which delves into the Hadith:
• A woman’s prayer does not count if she does not wear a headscarf.
• Narrated by Aishah –may Allah be pleased with her– that said: “The prayer of a woman who has reached the age of menstruation is not accepted without a Khimar.” Narrated by Abu Dawud – may Allah be pleased with him in his Sunnan and at-Tirmidhi – may Allah be pleased with him in his Sunnah, in a narration where it said: “Without a scarf [khimar]." and at-Tirmidhi commented it to be authentic.
What is a khimar?
A khimar is specifically a headscarf or covering that is worn over the head, covering most or all of the hair along with often a portion of the neck and shoulders. The above Hadith indicates that a Muslim woman in puberty and beyond should cover appropriately during her prayer to ensure that it is valid and accepted by our Creator. Proper clothing for Muslims should of course not be transparent, or revealing, but should always fall loosely on the body.
Muslim women therefore must make preparations to ensure proper attire is used while praying at any given time, in either Islam’s mosques or their homes.
In conclusion, it is essential that a Muslim woman wear a headscarf if she has reached her age of menstruation. Covering for a Muslim woman to use when offering prayer is one of the most essential part of ensuring it is completed accurately.
Preparing for prayer is a crucial time for a devout Muslim and if she adorns an Islam prayer dress when meeting Allah, she should be doing so comfortably, and with humility.