What is the ruling if one only finds clothing sufficient to cover the private parts or the shoulders?

Chapter on the Description of Prayer

Al-Mughni

Book of Prayer

Book 3 · Issue 1 · Bab 5

Open in Qurani

Primary text

If a person only finds clothing sufficient to cover the private parts or the shoulders, the covering of the private parts takes precedence. This is based on the Prophet's saying: "If the garment is wide, wrap it around yourself, and if it is tight, tie it around your waist." Since this garment is tight, the *izar* (waist covering) is required. Furthermore, covering the private parts is an established and confirmed obligation, whereas there is disagreement and leniency regarding covering the shoulders, thus the covering of the private parts cannot be postponed. Evidence supporting the requirement to cover the private parts first is also found in a narration from Ibn Umar (or Umar) in Al-Musnad, stating: "None of you should wrap himself like the Jews wrap; tie it around your waist. Whoever has two garments should tie one around his waist and wrap the other, and whoever does not have two garments should tie one around his waist and then pray." The soundest view prioritizes covering the private parts and standing for prayer, supported by the explicit Hadith mentioned, and the story narrated by Abu Dawud from Jabir, where the Prophet instructed him, when the garment was tight, to secure it around his waist.

Supporting text

Some narrations from Ahmad suggest that if the garment is too fine to be tied and praying while tied around the waist is insufficient, prayer while seated may be permitted. This is interpreted as an acknowledgment that covering the shoulders might be excused in that specific scenario, as the obligation of standing might be substituted, whereas the covering of the shoulders lacks such a substitute.