What is the ruling on a woman wearing an abaya on her shoulder while praying, and how does one respond to someone who argues about this matter based on the difference of opinion among scholars?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
If a woman covers her body with the prescribed Islamic dress, there is no objection to her wearing an abaya on her shoulders, whether in prayer or outside of it. However, if she does not cover her body and intends to suffice with an abaya on her shoulders, this is forbidden, because wearing an abaya defines the woman's body, and thus does not achieve the prescribed Islamic covering. This may become forbidden in the presence of non- men.
The second prohibition is imitating men.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/49827
Where this answer came from
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 49827
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy