Search In Fatwa

Is It Permissible for a Woman to Pray Without Covering Her Feet in the Company of Other Women?

Question

Can women pray without covering her feet in a women surrounding

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

To begin with, the scholars  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  them have differed regarding the ruling on a woman covering her feet during prayer. The majority of scholars hold that it is obligatory for a woman to cover her feet in prayer. The Encyclopedia of Islamic Jurisprudence states: "As for the feet, they are considered 'Awrah (the parts of the body that must be covered) according to the Maliki schools of jurisprudence and the Shafi'i school of jurisprudence, except for Al-Muzani. This is also the view of the Hanbali school of jurisprudence, and it is also the opinion of some of the Hanafi scholars. The established view among the Hanafi scholars is that the feet are not considered 'Awrah, and this is the opinion of Al-Muzani from the Shafi'i school of jurisprudence, as well as that of Shaykh Taqiyy ad-Din Ibn Taymiyyah  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him from the Hanbali scholars.” [End quote]. The opinion that we adopt in Islamweb is the view of the majority of the scholars.

Thus, it is obligatory for a woman to cover her feet, whether she prays with a group of women or prays alone, because covering her 'Awrah in prayer is to fulfil the right of Allah, and not for covering it in front of people, just as she must cover her hair, whether she prays with women or prays alone. Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him said in Majmu' al-Fatawa: “For indeed, if a woman prays alone, she is commanded to cover her head, but outside of prayer, she is permitted to uncover her head in her home. The act of taking one’s adornment in prayer (by wearing one’s clothes) is the right of Allah.” [End quote]

Allah knows best.

Related Fatwa