Question:
Salam, is the stitching on the socks of a woman which makes the skin colour visible make a person’s prayer and tawaf invalid? I tried to wear two layers of socks but the skin colour is still faintly visible.
Answer:
Among the valid conditions of prayer is that the awrah must be covered. According to madhhab Syafie, the awrah of a man is a part of his body from the navel to the knees, whereas for a woman her whole body except her face and palms. If a man or woman performs prayer while not covering the awrah, then his/her prayer is invalid. Syafi’iyyah scholars supported this opinion with the hadith of Prophet PBUH narrated by Aisyah radhiyallahu ‘anha:
لَا يَقْبَلُ اللَّهُ صَلَاةَ حَائِضٍ إِلَّا بِخِمَارٍ
“The Salat (prayer) of a woman, who has reached puberty, is not accepted unless she is wearing a Khimar.” [1]
Imam al-Nawawi said, “what is meant by a woman who has reached puberty is a woman who has menstruated.” And this is also a valid condition for man. [2] It means Allah doesn’t accept the prayer of a man or woman who has reached puberty except when both has covered their awrah.
Imam al-Syairazi stated, the awrah is considered to be covered when the skin colour is no longer visible. [3] Syeikh Zainuddin al-Malibari explained that skin colour cannot be visible at a talking distance [the usual distance for two or people talking to each other] [4]. In fiqh, the term used to describe this is majlis al-takhatub (discussion/chatting). Syeikh Habib Hasan bin Ahmad al-Kaf explained the distance of majlis al-takhatub (in the chapter on washing a thick beard) is approximately 1.5 metres. [5] Syeikh Nawawi al-Bantani stated: “[covering awrah] with a pure matter that could hinder the visibility of another of the skin colour, such that the fairness (of the skin) or darkness in a majlis al-takhatub.” [6]
Do the scholars analogically deduce the chapter of ablution with the chapter of awrah? Yes, Imam Ahmad bin Musa bin ‘Ajil, as stated by Syeikh Zainuddin al-Malibari [7] and Syeikh al-Syirwani. [8] However, according to Syeikh Abu Makhramah the final opinion states there is no difference between majlis al-takhatub or not. If a person has to look at the article of clothing carefully closely, then it is fine even if the awrah is still visible. [9]
To conclude, thin women’s socks that when worn the skin colour isn’t visible at a distance of 1.5 metres is permissible to be worn while praying. However, it is sunnah to wear a thicker pair of socks or wear longer praying clothes to avoid the khilaf. Wallahu a’lam.
[1] Hadis narrated by Abu Daud, no. 641, Ibn Majah, no. 655, and al-Tirmizi, no. 377). Al-Tirmizi said, “This hadith from Aisyah is hasan and practised (as support) among scholars.”
[2] Al-Majmūʿ Sharḥ al-Muhadhdhab, 3/166-167.
