Scholars' Explanation on Wearing Patterned Clothing During Prayer

Sheikh Muhammad Shiddiq al Minsyawi, in his book, addressed the issue of Muslims praying while wearing patterned or illustrated clothing. He cited a hadith from Aisha, who reported that the Prophet Muhammad once prayed in a patterned cloth. After the prayer, he said, ‘Take this cloth to Abu Jahm and bring me the plain garment of Abu Jahm, for it has distracted me from my prayer.’ In another narration, the Prophet said, ‘I was looking at its pattern during prayer, and I feared it might distract me.’ According to Sheikh Shiddiq, this hadith indicates that wearing clothing with images, patterns, or anything else that could disturb one’s focus during prayer is disliked (makruh). Imam Malik was asked about wearing a ring with an image during prayer, and he advised against wearing it at all, whether during prayer or otherwise. Imam Nawawi stated that wearing anything with images, crosses, or distractions is makruh during prayer, as explained by the Prophet’s hadith. Ibn Hajar added that the hadith establishes the dislike of anything distracting, be it colours, images, or otherwise, and that such items should be removed if they disturb prayer. Regarding the validity of the prayer, there are two opinions: one stating the prayer is invalid, and the other, which is the preferred and majority view, stating the prayer is valid but disliked. Ibn Hajar noted that the Prophet did not interrupt or repeat his prayer, indicating its validity, a stance adopted by the majority of scholars.