Important Rulings Related to Salah, Clothing, and Wudu
The prohibition of allowing one's garment, trousers, or lower clothing to hang below the ankles is not limited to Salah alone. Rather, according to many scholars, it is not permissible in any situation. If something is prohibited outside of prayer, then it is even more inappropriate during prayer.
It is disliked to perform Salah while wearing clothing that contains pictures or images of living beings. A Muslim should avoid such clothing, especially during worship, and should strive to stand before Allah in the most respectful manner possible.
Leather from a lawful animal that has been properly slaughtered, or leather that has been purified through tanning, may be used and prayer performed while wearing or using it is permissible.
If a person unknowingly performs Salah in impure clothing, the ruling depends upon the amount of impurity present. If the impurity was within the excused limit, the prayer is valid and does not need to be repeated. However, if the impurity exceeded the excused amount, the prayer must be repeated after becoming aware of it.
Just as stolen property does not become lawful by being sold or exchanged, clothing obtained through theft does not become permissible simply because it has been traded for something else. Performing Salah in stolen clothing is therefore considered disliked and blameworthy.
In cases of extreme necessity, certain concessions apply regarding impure clothing. For a man, the minimum area that must be covered during Salah is from the navel to the knees.
If a person's lower garment becomes impure but he possesses another clean garment that can adequately cover the required area, he must remove the impure garment and pray using the clean one. In such a case, praying in the impure garment is not permissible.
If no clean garment is available and there is no way to purify the impure clothing, then several situations may arise. If at least one quarter of the garment is clean, the person should wear it and perform Salah in it, and praying unclothed is not permitted. If the garment is completely impure, then the person may pray without clothing, sitting down and indicating the bowing and prostration through gestures. If less than one quarter of the garment is clean, then he has the choice of either wearing the garment for prayer or praying seated with gestures.
Wudu is an essential condition for the validity of Salah. Deliberately offering prayer without Wudu is a grave sin, and sincere repentance and seeking Allah's forgiveness are required.
If a person feels a strong and urgent need to relieve himself, whether for urination or defecation, he should attend to that need before praying. Performing Salah in such a state is severely disliked, and according to many jurists the prayer should be repeated.
Growing excessively long fingernails is considered contrary to the natural disposition encouraged in Islam. Regarding Wudu, if dirt, paint, or any substance gathers beneath the nails in such a way that water cannot reach the skin, then Wudu is invalid and any Salah performed with that Wudu is also invalid. However, if water reaches all required areas properly, the prayer remains valid.
Muslims should maintain cleanliness and regularly trim their nails, as this is part of the Sunnah and personal hygiene encouraged by Islam.
If a person prays in darkness and is still able to face the Qiblah correctly, there is no problem with performing Salah in the dark, and the prayer is valid.
However, praying directly towards a burning fire is considered disliked by many scholars because it resembles practices associated with fire worship and detracts from the dignity and focus of worship.
May Allah grant us the ability to perform Salah correctly, maintain purity, observe the proper etiquettes of worship, and stand before Him with sincerity, humility, and devotion. Ameen.
