What is the ruling for a person praying who lacks sufficient covering (satr)?
Chapter on the Description of Prayer
Al-Mughni
Book of Prayer
Primary text
The person lacking the primary covering for prayer may pray in a seated position, nodding for the bowing (ruku') and prostration (sujud). This view is attributed to Ibn Umar, and supported by Ata, Ikrimah, Qatadah, al-Awza'i, and the Ahl ar-Ra'y (the Hanafi school). The evidence for this precedence of covering over standing is twofold: First, covering is waived entirely if ability is present, whereas standing is waived in voluntary prayers (nawafil). Second, standing is specific to prayer, while covering is obligatory in prayer and outside of it; thus, if one must be omitted, the lesser requirement (standing) should be omitted over the more confirmed requirement (covering). Furthermore, if the covering is secured, the seated prayer includes a replacement for standing, bowing, and prostration, whereas covering has no replacement.
Supporting text
The opinion of Mujahid, Malik, Shafi'i, and Ibn al-Mundhir is that the person must pray standing with bowing and prostration, based on the hadith, "Pray standing, and if you are unable, then sit." Another view suggests discretion between praying standing or sitting. If the covering is partially achieved (covering the private parts, or the area between the navel and the knee), it is prioritized as it covers the most obligatory aspect of covering and the most offensive sight.