بِسْمِ اللہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
Darulifta Ahlesunnat (Dawateislami)
What do the noble scholars and jurists of Islamic law say about the following: While a sister was performing sajdah, her child pulled her scarf, causing the hair on the front of her head and some of her hanging hairs at the back to become unveiled. She immediately covered the front part. However, the hairs hanging at the back remained unveiled for a long period, and she completed her salah in this state. Will the salah be valid in this case?
In the described scenario, if the hair at the front were covered up before the duration in which سبحان اللہ can be recited three times, but a quarter or more of the hair hanging at the back remained uncovered, the salah of this sister is invalid. However, if less than a quarter of these hairs remain uncovered, the salah will be valid. This is because the hanging hair of women is also part of the ‘awrah and covering them is fard. So, if a quarter or more of any part of the ‘awrah becomes exposed unintentionally during salah, and it remains uncovered for the duration of reciting three سبحان اللہ the salah is nullified. But, if less than a quarter is exposed or it is covered before the duration of one rukn (reciting three سبحان اللہ), the salah will not be nullified.
Note – The hair on a woman’s head and the hair hanging down from the head are two different parts. Therefore, if the hanging hair becomes unveiled, the ruling will be based on a quarter of the hanging hair. The hanging hairs of a woman are included in the ‘awrah, as stated in al-Hidayah:
و الشعر و البطن و الفخذ كذلك۔۔۔ و المراد به النازل من الرأس هو الصحيح
(Al-Hidayah, Vol. 1, p. 45, Publ. Dar Ihya’ al-Turas al-‘Arabi, Beirut)
Because the hanging hair is also part of the ‘awrah, if they become uncovered during salah, the salah will be nullified, as stated in Halbi Sagheer:
اما الشعر المسترسل اي النازل عن رأسها (فقد قال الفقیه ابو الليث ان انكشف ربع المسترسل فسدت صلوتها) كذا في اكثر الفتاوى لانه عورة وهو المذكور في عامة الكتب و هو الصحيح
(Halbi Sagheer, Vol. 1, p. 108, Publ. Shareef Kutub Khana)
When will uncovering of the ‘awrah nullify the salah? Explaining this, Allamah ‘Ala-Uddin Haskafi عليه الرحمة states:
(و يمنع) حتى انعقادها (كشف ربع عضو) قدر أداء ركن بلا صنعه (من عورة غليظة أو خفيفة) على المعتمد
(Al-Durr al-Mukhtar, Vol. 1, p. 58, Publ. Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyah, Beirut)
If less than one fourth of the ‘awrah gets exposed, the salah will be valid, as stated in Radd al-Muhtar under the text of al-Durr al-Mukhtar
قدر أداء ركن: اذا انکشف ربع عضو اقل من قدر اداء رکن فلا یفسد اتفاقا لان الانکشاف الکثیر فی الزمان القلیل عفو کالانکشاف القلیل فی الزمن الکثیر
(Radd al-Muhtar, Vol. 1, p. 406, Publ. Dar al-Fikr, Beirut)
It is stated in Fatawa Razawiyah:
اگر ایک عضو کی چہارم کھل گئی، اگرچہ بلا قصدہی کھلی ہو اور اس نے ایسی حالت میں رکوع یا سجود یا کوئی رکن کامل اداکیا، تو نما ز بالاتفاق جاتی رہی۔ اگر صورت مذکورہ میں پورا رکن تو ادا نہ کیا، مگر اتنی دیرگزر گئی، جس میں تین بار سبحان اللہ کہہ لیتا، توبھی مذہب مختارپر جاتی رہی۔۔۔ ان سب صورتوں میں اگر ایک عضو کی چہارم سے کم ظاہر ہے، تو نما ز صحیح ہو جائے گی اگر چہ نیت سے سلا م تک انکشاف رہے۔
Translation: If one-fourth of a limb is uncovered, even if it is unintentional, and the person performs ruku’, sujood, or a complete rukn in this state, it is agreed that the salah will be nullified. But in this situation, if an entire rukn was not offered, but enough time passed in which ‘Subhan Allah’ could be recited three times, even then, salah will also become invalid according to the Mukhtar (chosen) opinion. But in all cases, if less than one-fourth of a limb was uncovered, the salah will be valid even if it remained uncovered from the intention till performing the salam. (Fatawa Razawiyah, Vol. 6, p. 30, Publ. Barkaat-e-Raza)
The hair hanging from the head is considered an individual part, as stated in Fatawa Razawiyah:
سر یعنی طول میں پیشانی کے اُوپر سے گردن کے شروع تک اور عرض میں ایک کان سے دوسرے کان تک جتنی جگہ پر عادۃً بال جمتے ہیں۔ بال یعنی سر سے نیچے جو لٹکے ہوئے بال ہیں وہ جدا عورت ہیں۔
Translation: The head is the area where hair naturally grows, which in length is from above the forehead till the beginning of the neck, and in width is from one ear to the other. The hair, i.e., those hairs that hang from the head, is a separate ‘awrah. (Fatawa Razawiyah, Vol. 6, p. 40, Publ. Barkaat-e-Raza)
وَ اللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ رَسُوْلُہ اَعْلَم صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَ اٰلِہٖ وَ سَلَّم
Answered By: Muhammad Sajid Attari
Verified By: Mufti Abul-Hasan Muhammad Hashim Khan Attari
Ref No: MUI-0336
Date: 16th Rabi’ al-Awwal 1446 AH/ 20th September 2024
