Is it makruh for men to perform prayers in short-sleeved dresses or shirts?

I read that it is makruh for men to pray with rolled up sleeves. Does the same rule apply to performing prayers in a short-sleeved garment (that does not have long sleeves)?

Dear Brother / Sister,

It is stated in the fatawa books that it is makruh for men to roll up the sleeves of a shirt or top and perform prayers like that. However, it is not makruh to pray in a short-sleeved shirt because in that case, the sleeves of the shirt are not rolled up. It is regarded as levity to keep the sleeves of a long-sleeved shirt in that position without rolling them down but that is not the case with a short-sleeved shirt.

There is no need for much sensitivity in this issue; what matters is to stand in the presence of God Almighty and fulfill the duty of servitude with a calm heart and peace of mind. Our religion is not too preoccupied with form; it attaches importance to the heart and the deed. It is not useful but harmful to criticize those who perform prayers in short-sleeved shirts in a hot season. Besides, fiqh scholars have regarded it permissible to perform prayers like that. Nevertheless, performing prayers in a long-sleeved shirt is closer to taqwa.

It is makruh to perform prayers wearing a shirt, top, or similar garment by putting the right side of the garment under the armpit and the left side over the shoulder. It is regarded as levity. However, it is permissible and even considered sunnah to do so during circumambulation in Hajj. (Celal Yıldırım, Kaynaklarıyla İslam Fıkhı, Uysal Kitabevi: 1/361)

After this brief explanation, we regard it useful to give the following information:

- According to fiqh sources, it is makruh to perform prayers not with a short-sleeved shirt but with uncovered arms formed by rolling up the sleeve. (see al-Jazari, al-Fiqhu Alal- Madhahibil-Arba’a, 1/275)

- According to Maliki madhhab, if the sleeves have not been rolled up just for the prayer, but as part of a normal custom, it is not makruh to perform prayers like that. (see al-Jazari, ibid)

- According to the Hanafi madhhab, it is makruh to roll up the sleeves up to the elbows, but it is not makruh to roll them up below the elbows. (see W. Zuhayli, al-Fiqhul-Islami, 1/781)

- It is possible to understand it from the following statement in Fatawa al-Hindiyya: “It is makruh if a person performs prayers with his shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows”. (quoted from Fatawa Qadihan, Fatawa Hindiyya, Darul-Fikr, 1310, 1/106)

- In fact, acting upon the phrase “rolling up to the elbows” some Hanafi scholars have stated that it is not makruh to roll up the sleeves somewhere below the elbows.” (see Ibn Abidin, Raddul-Muhtar, 1/641)

- The fact that al-Jazari’s “al-Fiqh Alal-Madhahibil-Arbaa” and Wahba Zuhayli’s “al-Fiqhul-Islami”, which are two major sources of fiqh compiling the decrees of the four madhhabs of Ahl al-Sunnah, do not include “performing prayers in a sleeveless shirt” among the makruhs of prayer shows that it is not makruh. (see al-Jazari, ibid, 1/274-284; Wahba Zuhayli, ibid, 1/771-787)

- The greatest Hanafi fiqh sources such as al-Mabsut (1/31-32), al-Badai’ (1/215-220) and Ibn Abidin (ibid), do not include “praying performing prayers in a sleeveless shirt” among the makruhs of prayer.

- In fact, according to some scholars, the sleeves being rolled up is regarded makruh because of the command of the hadith, “I have been forbidden to fold back the garment” (not because of leaving the arms uncovered). As a matter of fact, according to a narration from Ibn Abbas, the Prophet (pbuh) said:

“I have been commanded to prostrate on seven bones and not to fold back the garment and hair.” (Muslim, Salah, 227, 228)

- According to Imam Nawawi, it is makruh to fold back the hair and the garment (for example, to roll up the trousers) or to roll up the sleeves. (see Nawawi, Sharhu Sahihi Muslim, IV/209)

- It is understood from all those explanations that it is makruh to perform prayers by rolling up the sleeves of a shirt or trousers. A long-sleeved shirt is better in terms of the manners of prayer, but it is not makruh to perform prayers in short sleeved garments.

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