Praying Wearing a Tank Top

Question: Is it allowed to pray with wearing a tank top, having my shoulders free?

Answer:

In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,

Assalam’aleykum, I pray this finds you in the best of states.

Jazakum Allah khayr for your question!

Praying in a tank top for a man won’t make his prayer invalid as long as the area from the end of the navel down to, and including the knee is covered by clothes [Nur Al-Idah].

Nonetheless praying dressed like this would entail missing the praiseworthy act to pray in a qamis (along with a garment covering the lower part of the body and a head covering) [ Maraqi Al-Falah].

It has also been deemed disliked by some scholars to pray in clothes one would not wear when visiting important people [Maraqi Al-Falah].

It has been narrated that Sayyiduna Umar Ibn Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, saw a man praying in undignified clothes. He told him: “Would you go dressed like that if I would send you to visit people?” The man answered: “No.” Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, then told him: “Allah is more deserving that you embellish yourself for Him” [Bayhaqi].

The awra in the prayer

The awra for men includes the area from the end of the navel down to, and including the knee.  So the `awra does not include the navel, but it includes the entire knee [Ascent to Felicity, p.74].

A woman’s awra whilst performing Salat consists of the whole body except the face, hands and feet. Allah Most High says: “O children of Adam! Wear your beautiful apparel (zeenah) at every time and place of prayer” (Surah al-A’raf, 31).

And Allah knows best.

I hope that the above answers your question. If something is unclear please don’t hesitate to ask again.

May Allah Most High grant you the best of this world and the next. Please keep us in your du’as!

Wassalam

[Ustadh] Sufyan Qufi