Question:
What is the ruling of praying while wearing a singlet?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
The singlet is a sleeveless undergarment which is usually worn by men. In other words, someone praying while wearing singlet means he is praying without wearing clothing with sleeves that cover his shoulders. Undeniably there is a related narration regarding this issue. It is a hadith from Abu Hurairah RA, where the Prophet PBUH said:
لاَ يُصَلِّي أَحَدُكُمْ فِي الثَّوْبِ الْوَاحِدِ، لَيْسَ عَلَى عَاتِقَيْهِ شَىْءٌ
“None of you should offer prayer in a single garment that does not cover the shoulders.”
Sahih al-Bukhari (359)
According to the above hadith, there is a restriction against praying when one’s shoulders are exposed. According to the method in usul fiqh, if there is a restriction, then it means that it is prohibited. Hence, some scholars state that the act is prohibited (haram).
Imam Ibn Qudamah al-Maqdisi Rahimahullah said: It is an obligation for someone who is praying to place something from his clothing on his shoulders if he is able to do so. This is the opinion of Ibn Munzir stated by Abu Ja’far, where he said the prayer of someone who had his shoulders exposed is invalid. While the majority of scholars hold the opinion that: It is neither an obligation nor a valid condition of prayer. This is the opinion of Imam Malik and Imam al-Syafie, for both shoulders are not aurah, thus it is the same as the rest of the body.
Whereas Imam al-Nawawi Rahimahullah commented on the above hadith in his book Al-Minhaj Syarah Sahih Muslim (2/274) said: The wisdom of the restriction is, if he is wearing his cloth and there is nothing covering his shoulders, then there is a possibility to have his aurah exposed rather than if there is clothing on his shoulders. He further said: Imam Malik, Imam Abu Hanifah, Imam Al-Syafie and the majority of scholars is of the opinion: The restriction results in the makruh tanzih ruling and not towards a prohibition, whether he is able to place something on his shoulders or not. While Imam Ahmad and some of the salaf hold the opinion that the prayer is invalid if he is able to place something (from his clothing) on his shoulders. While in another narration from Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal, in his opinion, the prayer is valid but it is sinful to not place something from his clothing on his shoulders.
Conclusion
After analysing this issue referring to the evidences and opinions of scholars, we state that praying while wearing a singlet or clothing that exposes the shoulders for a man is MAKRUH (undesirable) and the prayer is valid. Contemplate on the following statement of Allah SWT:
يَا بَنِي آدَمَ خُذُوا زِينَتَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ
“O children of Adam, take your adornment (clothing that covers your aurah) at every masjid,”
Surah al-A’raaf (31)
Imam al-Thabari in his commentary state the words خُذُوا زِينَة in the above verse means clothing that covers aurah. We pray that Allah SWT gives us the correct understanding in practising the religion. Ameen.