Question:
Salam SS Mufti. I want to ask about what the ruling is for wearing clothes that are worn to sleep then wearing the same clothes for praying. What is the ruling for that?
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam. Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the many countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the prophet Muhammad PBUH, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
There are 6 valid conditions for prayer. One of them is a clean body, a clean place of prayer and clean clothes for prayer, all of them need to be clean from any najis (impurity). Allah SWT states:
وَثِيَابَكَ فَطَهِّرْ
“And purify your clothes,”
Surah Al-Muddathir (4)
Syeikh Abdurrahman Al-Sa’di said in his commentaries that the verse meant to clean the clothes from najis. This is due to the fact that it is specified as one of the conditions for the perfection or completeness of prayer. This is the reason why it is commanded to clean our clothes all the time especially in prayer. Refer Taysir Al-Karim Al-Rahman Fi Tafsir Al-Kalam Al-Mannan (2/132)
It is also understood that clothes should be free from any najis, according to the Prophet PBUH’s instruction to Khaulah binti Yasar. Khaulah asked the Prophet PBUH:
يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ لِي إِلاَّ ثَوْبٌ وَاحِدٌ وَأَنَا أَحِيضُ فِيهِ فَكَيْفَ أَصْنَعُ ؟ قَالَ : إِذَا طَهُرْتِ فَاغْسِلِيهِ ، ثُمَّ صَلِّي فِيهِ
“O messenger of Allah, I have no other clothes except the one I wear even when I’m menstruating. What am I to do? The Prophet PBUH said: When you are clean, wash that clothes then, wear it for prayer.”
Sunan Abu Daud (365)
This shows that the Prophet PBUH instructs for the clothes to be washed and cleaned from any najis first.
Imam Al-Nawawi said, according to mazhab Syafi’e, the absence of najis is one of the valid conditions of prayer. If he knows there is najis on his clothes then his prayer is invalid. It doesn’t matter whether it is for obligatory prayer, sunnah prayer or funeral prayer or even sujud al-tilawah, cleaning najis is the valid condition for all these worships. This is the opinion of scholars of mazhab Syafi’e, Imam Ahmad and majority Islamic scholars may they be salaf or khalaf. Refer Al-Majmu’ Syarh Al-Muhazzab (3/139)
Syeikh Nawawi al-Jawi:
“The second valid condition for prayer is to be clean from any najis that is not forgiven (لا يعفى عنها) on clothes worn, clean body includes on body parts such as the nose, eyes and ears. Also clean from any najis is the place of prayer where the najis may stick or adhere on clothes or body.” Refer Kasyifah Al-Saja Syarh Safinah al-Naja (hlm 119)
This means that the validity of someone’s prayer depends on this condition. If this condition is not fulfilled, then the prayer is invalid.
Another example of valid conditions for prayer is to cover the aurah completely. This is according to the Prophet PBUH’s order to Jarhad when his thighs are exposed in prayer. The prophet PBUH said:
غَطِّ فَخِذَكَ فَإِنَّهَا مِنْ الْعَوْرَةِ
“Cover your thigh, for indeed it is 'Awrah.”
Sunan al-Tirmizi (2798)
In another narration from Aisyah R.anha, the Prophet PBUH said:
لاَ يَقْبَلُ اللَّهُ صَلاَةَ حَائِضٍ إِلاَّ بِخِمَارٍ
"The prayer of a woman who has reached the age of menstruation is not accepted without a Khimar (head covering)"
Sunan Abu Daud (641)
Imam Al-San’ani said the dismissal with the letter lam in the verse leads to the dismissal of a woman’s prayer which results in the invalidity of the prayer if the woman does not cover her aurah. Refer Subul Al-Salam Ila Bulugh al-Maram (14/43)
Imam Al-Nawawi said in al-Majmu’:
“Covering of aurah is a valid condition of prayer. If any parts of the aurah is exposed, then the prayer is invalid. It does not matter if the part exposed is small or big. May it be for man or woman. May it be for individual prayer or congregational prayer. May it be for obligatory prayer or sunnah prayer or funeral prayer or tawaf or sujud al-tilawah or sujud al-shukr (prostration of gratitude).” Refer Al-Majmu’ Syarh Al-Muhazzab (3/172)
Coming back to the question asked, it is permitted to wear pyjamas (nightwear) for prayer as long as the clothes are clean from any najis and covers the aurah. This is in accordance with Islamic legal maxim that states:
الأَصْلُ فِي الأشْيَاء الطَّهَارةُ
“The origin of something is pure”
This means that any clothing, water and others remain pure as long as there’s no proof of najis. Syeikh Abdurrahman Al-Sa’di said:
والأصل في مياهنا الطهارهْ # والأرض والثياب والحجارهْ
“The original state of water is pure. The same goes to land, clothes and rocks.” Refer Syarh Manzumah Al-Qawaid Al-Fiqhiyah,hlm 136-137)
However, it is better to change into other proper clothes for prayer. Allah SWT states:
يَـٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ خُذُوا۟ زِينَتَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ
“O children of Adam, take your adornment at every masjid,”
Surah Al-A’raf (31)
Al-Hafiz Ibnu Kathir said, the verse means it is sunnah to wear neat proper and clothes when performing prayer. Especially on Friday and Eid. It is also sunnah to wear perfume and siwak (brush teeth using stick) because it is considered as adorning oneself for prayer and it is also an included condition for the perfection of prayer. Refer Tafsir Al-Quran Al-‘Azim (2/256)
As a conclusion, it is permitted to pray wearing pyjamas (nightwear) as long as the clothes are clean from any najis and covers the aurah. However, it is better to change into proper neat clothes. It is as preparation for us to face Allah SWT.
May Allah gives us understanding in His religion. Wallahua’lam.