What is the wisdom behind covering while praying and when alone?

- If the purpose of covering oneself is to protect chastity, the person is alone.

Dear Brother / Sister,

We will present some ignored facts to fill the knowledge gaps that form the basis of the problem.

- The main reason for the decrees in Islam is the orders and prohibitions of Allah. Things are done because Allah commands, and things are avoided because He forbids them. Accordingly, the real reason for and true wisdom behind a decree is Allah’s - positive or negative - order. It is also called the true “illah (reason)”. Other benefits, on the other hand, are the elements aimed at satisfying the human mind, which is also called “wisdom”.

- It is understood from this information that a decree put forward by Islam has a position above time and space - unless it is abolished by Allah.

- A woman has to cover her entire body while praying, except for her hands and face (and feet according to one view). There is no disagreement among the scholars constituting the majority on this issue. The real cause of this covering is the command of Allah. Being protected from others is a wisdom. Allah’s order is carried out regardless of His wisdom/whether His wisdom is known or not.

- If the core of the issue was only about the looks of others, it would be valid for men to pray naked in the place where they were alone.

- Although an important part of the wisdom behind the rules regarding worship/servitude is known, the wisdom of some of them is not known. The satisfaction of the mind is in question in the decrees whose wisdom is known while the surrendering of the heart is in question in those whose wisdom is unknown.

- As for the issue that Allah sees all parts of us, this judgment is definitely true. Nothing is hidden from Allah, and He also sees the most vulgar private parts of people. However, the covering of man represents the sense of shame inherent in him as a human being, which symbolizes his own mood. Our infallible guide in this regard, is the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). It is known that he did not lie naked even in his bed. It is known that he did not remain completely naked even while taking a bath. Allah is more worthy of being shown respect than anyone else. Angels are just as worthy of respect as a righteous and old person. They are always with us.

- On the other hand, Allah wants to make His art look beautiful and hides the things that bother people. For example, He hides things like blood and tripe. He attracts attention to His bounties by decorating them. So too, He wants to show to conscious beings that His creatures and servants are beautiful. Their appearing in ugly situations is a sort of rebellion against His names of Jamil (Beauteous), Muzayyin (Adorner), Latif (Subtle) and Hakim (Wise), and is contrary to courtesy. This is one of the thousands of instances of wisdom behind abiding by hijab/covering while praying or alone.

- In addition, a doctor, professionally, may examine the most private part of someone who is canonically a stranger to him, and if necessary, it may be shown to him and this cannot be said to be discourteous. Indeed, it may be said that the conduct of medicine requires it. However, the same doctor may not examine the private parts as a man, or as a preacher or teacher, and courtesy cannot issue a fatwa permitting it to be shown. To do so would be shameless. In just the same way, Allah has numerous names and each has a different manifestation. For example, just as the name of Oft-Forgiving (Ghaffar) requires the existence of sins and Veiler (Sattar), the existence of faults, so the name of Beauteous (Jamil) does not wish to see ugliness. Names pertaining to divine beauty and perfection like Latif (Subtle), Karim (Munificent), Hakim (All-Wise), and Rahim (All-Compassionate) require that beings be in the most beautiful form and best possible situations.

- Again, those beautiful names of Allah want to display their beauties in the view of angels, spirit beings, jinn and man through the beautiful states and fine conduct of beings. Allah wants to make people look beautiful to other beings such as angels, jinn and spiritual beings. (see Nursi, Lemalar, On Birinci Lem'a)

- There is no need to wear thick clothes that are worn outside while praying. A long, thin skirt that will cover the body and not show the skin, a suitable shirt and a headscarf are sufficient. It is not be difficult to wear them for five minutes to open the door of Paradise and perform the prayer.

- Following the route drawn by the verse “Therefore stand firm (in the straight Path) as thou art commanded” (Hud, 11/112; Shura, 42/15), which is the unmistakable compass that determines the true path is the most obvious sign of servitude.

Questions on Islam