Wearing
forbidden clothing could invalidate one's prayer
Question:
A woman uses a particular clothing for prayer and it is clothing
for men. Is her prayer permissible? Is this considered part
of imitating men?
Response:
If the clothing is something particular for men, then it is
forbidden for her to wear it regardless of whether she is
praying or is outside of the prayer. This is because it is
confirmed from the Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam)
that he cursed those women who imitate and appear like men
as well as those men who imitate and appear like women. It
is not allowed for a woman to wear clothing that are particular
for men and it is not allowed for men to wear clothing that
are particular for women. However, we must understand the
concept of "particularity". Particularity is not with respect
to color but it is with respect to color and description.
It is, then, permissible for women to wear white clothing
as long as it is not the same as the white clothing of men.
If it is clear, though, that woman wearing men's clothing
is forbidden, then her prayer in such clothing is not valid
according to those scholars who say that the covering in the
prayer must be a covering which is permissible. This is a
question in which there is a difference of opinion among the
scholars. Some scholars say that it is a condition that the
covering or clothing be clothing that is in itself permissible.
Some do not lay down such a condition. The proof for those
who lay down such a condition is that the covering of the
aurah [what must be covered] in the prayer is one of the conditions
for the prayer and the covering must be something that Allaah
has permitted. If it is something that Allaah has not permitted,
then it is not considered a legal covering since it goes against
what is commanded. The proof of those who say that the prayer
is still valid while the person is committing a sin is that
the woman has actually covered herself and the sinful aspect
is something that is external and is not particularly related
to the prayer. In any case, the person who prays in forbidden
clothing is in a dangerous situation since her prayer may
be rejected and not accepted from her.
Shaykh
Ibn 'Uthaymeen
Fataawa al-Mar.ah
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