What Is the Ruling on Praying in Clothes with Images?
Answered by Dr. Muhammad Fayez Awad
Question
What is the ruling on praying in clothes that have images, such as t-shirts?
Answer
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. Blessings and peace be upon the Master of the Messengers, his Family, and all his Companions.
Scholarly Opinions on Wearing Clothes with Images
Scholars have differed on the ruling regarding images and wearing clothes that feature images. The question of praying in clothes with images is based on the ruling of wearing such clothes in the first place.
Scholars have differed on this matter due to differing views on whether wearing clothes with images entails disrespect towards the image (which would make it permissible, similar to images on cushions and rugs) or whether it involves honoring the image, thus resembling the hanging of pictures, which the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) destroyed and prohibited.
The Majority of Scholars
The majority of scholars hold that wearing clothes with images is disliked (makruh) because wearing them implies a degree of disrespect and lack of glorification of the image. This view equates it with images that the Sacred Law has permitted, such as those on rugs and cushions. [Mardawi, al-Insaf; Buhuti, Kashshaf al-Qina‘]
This is supported by what ‘Aisha (Allah be pleased with her) did when the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) tore down a curtain with images. She said: “So I made it into cushions.” [Muslim]
The Hanafi scholars stated that the dislike is removed if the image is covered by another garment. [Ibn Nujaym, al-Bahr al-Ra’iq; Khattab, Mawahib al-Jalil]
Another View
Other scholars, including the dominant opinions in the Hanbali and Shafi‘i Schools, prohibit wearing clothes with images, as wearing them does not indicate disrespect. [Maqdisi, al-Furu‘; Nawawi, Minhaj al-Talibin; Shirbini, Mughni al-Muhtaj]
This applies when the image is complete. If the image is incomplete in a way that life cannot exist with it (for example, missing essential parts of the body), the majority of scholars permit it.
Therefore, regarding clothes with large images on the chest or back, if the image is complete, or if it is just the head, wearing such clothes is prohibited because it does not show disrespect to the image.
Ruling on the Validity of Prayer
As for the ruling on the validity of prayer, the prayer is valid even if the clothes contain prohibited images. However, the person incurs sin for wearing such clothes, as the prohibition is separate from the prayer itself.
A Muslim should strive to avoid distractions during prayer. ‘Aisha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) prayed in a garment with markings, and he glanced at its patterns during the prayer. After finishing, he said:
“Take this garment of mine to Abu Jahl and bring me the plain garment of Abu Jahl, for it distracted me just now in my prayer.” [Bukhari; Muslim]
Furthermore, Muslims should wear their finest and cleanest clothes for prayer, as Allah (Most High) says:
“O Children of Adam! Dress properly whenever you are at worship.” [Quran, 7:31]
This refers to wearing appropriate and clean clothes for every prayer.
May Allah grant us humility and proper etiquette in our prayers. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds.
[Shaykh] Dr. Muhammad Fayez Awad
Shaykh Dr. Muhammad Fayez Awad, born in Damascus, Syria, in 1965, pursued his Islamic studies in the mosques and institutes of Damascus. A graduate of the Islamic University of Medina in 1985, he holds a Ph.D. in Islamic Studies from Bahauddin Zakariya University in Pakistan.
He has extensive experience developing curricula and enhancing the teaching of various academic courses, including conducting intensive courses. Shaykh Awad has taught Fiqh, Usul al-Fiqh, Quranic sciences, the history of legislation, inheritance laws, and more at several institutes and universities such as Al-Furqan Institute for Islamic Sciences and Majma‘ al-Fath al-Islami in Damascus.
He is a lecturer at the Sultan Muhammad al-Fatih Waqf University in Istanbul, teaching various Arabic and Islamic subjects, and teaches at numerous Islamic institutes in Istanbul. Shaykh Awad is a member of the Association of Syrian Scholars, a founding member of the Zayd bin Thabit Foundation, a member of the Syrian Scholars Association, and a member of the Academic Council at the Iman Center for Teaching the Sunna and Quran.
Among his teachers from whom he received Ijazat are his father, Shaykh Muhammad Muhiyiddin Awad, Shaykh Muhiyiddin al-Kurdi, Shaykh Muhammad Karim Rajih, Shaykh Usama al-Rifai, Shaykh Ayman Suwaid, Shaykh Ahmad al-Qalash, Shaykh Muhammad Awwama, and Shaykh Mamduh Junayd.