Page 2 of 6
PREFACE
Today, various forms and ways of dressing are used by women in performing the Solat, be it in accordance with the Islamic law or contradicting it., Normally women are seen wearing a white linen set called the veil (telekung) every time they Solat and and making it a habit that cannot be abandoned. In fact, the veil is to help women who want to pray whether in the house or outside the house perfectly, but it is not a mandatory requirement for Solat.
Allah S.W.T. says:
يَا بَنِي آدَمَ خُذُوا زِينَتَكُمْ عِنْدَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ
Meaning: “ O Son of Adam! Wear your best and beautiful clothes when you enter the mosque. ” (Al-A’raf: 31)
Beautiful clothes in this verse means clothing that can cover the aurat, while mosque in the verse means solat. So the verse means “cover your aurat each time you pray(solat)”
Women who wants to perform the solat do not necessarily need to wear white veil(telekung) as is common practise. In fact they are required to wear clothing other than a veil(telekung) for solat as long as they cover their aurat. Wearing daily clothes that are loose and can perfectly cover the aurat is required according to syarak and can perform the solat.
Valid Solat requirement must be met fully before solat can be performed. If any of the requirement is omitted, the solat is not valid. The valid solat requirements are :-
- Knowing the solat time.
- Clean from major and minor impurities.
- Cleanse of the body, clothes and solat place from najis.
- Covering the aurat.
- Facing the Qiblat.
WOMEN’S AURAT DURING PRAYERS
Covering the aurat is one of the valid solat requirement that needs to be adhered to by women in order for their solat to be accepted by Allah S.W.T. Allah S.W.T. says:
وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا ۖ
Meaning: “ and do not display their ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof..” (Al-Nur: 31)
The above verse implies the women cannot reveal their body aurat except the face and palms.
Dira’ is women's clothes worn from the neck to the base of the body (such as dresses, blouses, shirts or “baju kurung”). While Khimar is a head dress and not required to cover the face..
Rasulullah SAW said:
لَا يَقْبَلُ اللَّهُ صَلَاةَ حَائِضٍ إِلَّا بِخِمَارٍ
لَا يَقْبَلُ اللَّهُ صَلَاةَ حَائِضٍ إِلَّا بِخِمَارٍ
Meaning: “Allah SWT does not accept the solat of women who have reached puberty except by wearing Khimars.".
This shows that Allah commanded that every woman must cover her head during solat. As Allah commands the women to cover it up until the chest.
وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَىٰ جُيُوبِهِنَّ ۖ
Meaning: “and let them cover parts of their neck with scarves on their heads”. ( Surah Al-Nur: 31)
Women must provide appropriate clothing to be used during solat. The clothing must meet conditions such as lengthy enough, loose and thick enough not to reveal the colour of the skin. If the clothes is thin, it’s not valid to be worn during solat.
Syeikh Abu Malik Kamal Bin As-Sayid Salim. 2012. Ensiklopedia Fiqah Wanita Muslimah. Selangor: Berlian Publications Sdn Bhd. p.g 79.
Haya Binti Mubarok Al-Barik. 1999. Ensiklopedia Wanita Muslimah. Kuala Lumpur: Pustaka Syuhada. p.g. 80-81.