What is the ruling on men praying in red garments?
Chapter on the Description of Prayer
Al-Mughni
Book of Prayer
Primary text
Our companions hold that it is disliked for men to wear and pray in red garments. ‘Umar once purchased a garment with a red thread and returned it. However, it is reported that the Prophet, peace be upon him, prayed in a red *Hullah* (a set of garments). The preference leans toward deeming it disliked because some narrations indicate that the Prophet, peace be upon him, did not return the greeting to a man wearing two red *Burd* (cloaks), suggesting disapproval, and another narration shows the companions swiftly removed red-threaded cloths upon his rebuke.
Supporting text
The narrations showing the Prophet, peace be upon him, praying in red garments suggest that the prohibition is not absolute, as the lack of returning a greeting might be due to a reason other than the color red, or the garment might have been Mu’asfar (safflower-dyed), which is disliked. Furthermore, the Hadith regarding removing the red-threaded cloths involves an unknown narrator.