Book 4: Prayer

“Umar b. Abu Salama said that he saw God’s Messenger praying in Umm Salama’s house girded with a single garment, placing its two ends over his shoulders.* * This is explained as meaning that the ends were each over a shoulder and under the other armpit and tied over the chest. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “None of you must pray in a single garment of which no part comes over his shoulders.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He said that he heard God’s Messenger say, “If anyone prays in a single garment he should cross the two ends.” Bukhari transmitted it.

‘A’isha said that God’s Messenger prayed in a woollen garment of hers with markings, and he gave a look at the markings. When he had finished he said, “Take this woollen garment of mine to Abu Jahm and bring me Abu Jahm’s Anbijani* garment, for it has distracted me just now from my prayer.” * A type of garment from the Syrian town of Manbij. The word in the text is anbijaniya. Manbijaniya is perhaps more common. See Lane, Lexicon, p. 2755 Pt. III (Bukhari and Muslim.) In a version by Bukhari he said, “I was looking at its markings while I was engaged in prayer, and I am afraid lest it may beguile me.”

Anas said that ‘A’isha had a figured curtain with which she secluded the side of her house, but the Prophet (ﷺ) said to her, “Remove this figured curtain of yours from us, for its pictures keep interfering with my prayer.” Bukhari transmitted it.

‘Uqba b. ‘Amir said that God’s Messenger was presented with a silk gown which he put on and wore while praying. Then when he withdrew he pulled it off vigorously as though he disapproved of it, saying, “This is not fitting for the pious.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)