QUESTION:

What do the scholars of the Dīn and muftīs of the Sacred Law state regarding the following issue: Many Muslim females in the U.K. wear transparent[1] scarves which means one can see through them, showing their necks and (upper) chest[2]. Is salāh valid wearing such scarves?

[1] Translucent scarves are also not allowed as the colour (of the skin/hair) is still visible; it needs to be opaque.

[2] i.e. just directly below the front part of the neck.

Questioner: Kalsoom from UK

ANSWER:

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم
الجواب بعون الملک الوھاب اللھم ھدایۃ الحق والصواب

Salāh will not be valid whilst wearing such a thin scarf which shows a quarter or all of a limb (i.e. part of the body), or whilst a quarter of the chest or neck is exposed, or the blackness of the hair of a female; any salāh prayed wearing such a scarf will not have been valid – it will have to be prayed again; only the Fard & Wājib of all such salāh are to be repeated.

Just as it is stated in Fatāwā ‘Ālamgīrī,

“وَالثَّوْبُ الرَّقِيقُ الَّذِي يَصِفُ مَا تَحْتَهُ لَا تَجُوزُ الصَّلَاةُ فِيهِ”

“Salāh is not permitted in such thin clothes which show what is inside [i.e. what it is meant to be covered].”

[al-Fatāwā al-Hindiyyah, vol 1, pg 58]

Likewise, it is stated in Bahār-e-Sharī’at that if a female wore such a thin head covering for salāh, beneath which the blackness of the hair is visible, then the salāh will not be valid, unless she covers it with something which hides the colour of the hair, etc. If less than the quarter of any limb which is Fard to be covered is exposed during salāh, then this amount is excused [i.e. the salāh will still be valid]. If a quarter was exposed and one covered it immediately, then in this case, the salāh will also still be valid. However, if it remained exposed for the duration of one ‘Rukn’, i.e. the amount of time it takes to say سُبْحَانَ الله thrice, or if it was exposed intentionally, even though it was covered immediately thereafter, the salāh will be regarded as being invalid (in both cases).

The verdict is issued according to this stance.

[Bahār-e-Sharī’at, vol 1, part 3, pg 481]

Just as it is stated in Fatāwā ‘Ālamgīrī,

“فَلَا يُجْعَلُ عَفْوًا الرُّبْعُ وَمَا فَوْقَهُ كَثِيرٌ وَمَا دُونَ الرُّبْعِ قَلِيلٌ وَهُوَ الصَّحِيحُ”

“A quarter or more [of a limb] is not excused, except the fact that of course whatever is less than a quarter is regarded is less – a small amount – and this is the correct stance.”

[al-Fatāwā al-Hindiyyah, vol 1, part 1, pg 58]

واللہ تعالی اعلم ورسولہ اعلم صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم
کتبہ ابو الحسن محمد قاسم ضیاء قادری

Answered by Mufti Qasim Zia al-Qadri
Translated by Haider Ali

Read the original Urdu answer here: [Q-ID0770] What is the ruling on women praying Salah in see-through scarves?

Also see:

[Q-ID0057] As a woman what part of my body must I cover in front of other women? 

[Q-ID0152] If my back is uncovered in prayer, does it invalidate the Salah? (sitr e awrah) 

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