What constitutes sufficient covering for prayer regarding clothing?

Chapter on the Description of Prayer

Al-Mughni

Book of Prayer

Book 3 · Issue 1 · Bab 5

Open in Qurani

Primary text

It suffices to wear a single garment that covers the private parts (awrah), with one side or a portion of it draped over the shoulder. This ruling is supported by the action of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) praying in a single garment with both ends cast over his shoulders, as narrated by 'Amr ibn Salamah. Furthermore, the Prophet (peace be upon him) instructed that if the garment is wide, one should wrap it around the body (talaḥḥuf), and if it is narrow, one should wear it as a loincloth (ittizār). The permissibility is confirmed by the Prophet's (peace be upon him) inquiry, "Does every one of you possess two garments?", implying that one is sufficient. Jabir also narrated seeing the Prophet (peace be upon him) praying in only a Qamis (tunic) without an outer cloak (rida').