What are the proofs of those who permit a woman to uncover her palms during prayer, and why do they choose this opinion?
Scholars have agreed that if a woman prays where no non- men can see her, she should cover her entire body and head, except for her face, which she may uncover. They differed regarding the hands (kaffayn).
Some scholars said that it is obligatory to cover them based on the generality of the : "The woman is 'awrah, so when she goes out, Shaytan looks at her," and based on Ibn Mas'ud's interpretation of the verse: "And not display their adornment except that which is apparent thereof" (24:31) as referring to clothes as the apparent part.
The majority, however, disagreed with them, holding that the hadith and the verse pertain to a woman's going out and appearing before non-mahram men, not to her prayer attire. They based their argument on what the Mothers of the Believers narrated about a woman's attire in prayer, such as Aisha's hadith: "The prayer of a menstruating woman is not accepted unless she is wearing a head covering (khimar)," and Umm Salamah's hadith: "Can a woman pray in a long dress (dir') and a head covering (khimar) without wearing an izar (lower garment)? He said: 'If the dir' is ample and covers the tops of her feet.'" Umm Salamah's silence regarding covering the hands indicates that it is not obligatory.
In conclusion, there is no valid evidence that commands covering the hands in prayer.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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