318. Should We Cover Our Feet During Salaah?

By Asma bint Shameem 

QUESTION

I know that women have to cover their hair and body. 

Should I also cover my feet?

ANSWER

Yes it’s much better and more on the safe side that we cover our feet as well. 

That’s because, according to the majority of the scholars, the feet are included in the 'awrah' (what needs to be hidden from non-mahram) for the woman. 

Proof:

If we look at the Mothers of the Believers and the other Sahaabiyaat, we will see that they took the matter of covering themselves very seriously and would make sure they were covered well, including their feet. 

Umm Salamah radhi Allaahu anhaa asked the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam: 

“What should women do with their hems? 

He said: 
“They should let them down a hand span.” 

She said: 
*Then their feet will show.* 

He said: “Then let it down a cubit, but no more than that.” 

(al-Tirmidhi, an-Nasa'i--saheeh by al-Albaani)

The fact that Umm Salamah said *"but their feet will show"*, shows that she was so concerned and worried about her feet being exposed to  non-mahram men. 

And that’s the reason why the  clothes of the women companions were *long* and the hem of their clothes hung *low*.

In fact, their clothes used to be so long that the lower edge would touch the  ground and get dirty. 

So one of them asked Umm Salamah, the wife of the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam about its purity. 

She said:

"I am a woman whose garment drags, and I may walk through a dirty place.  (So what to do?)

Umm Salamah radhi Allaahu anhaa said: 

“The Messenger Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said: 

‘That which comes after it purifies it.” (al-Tirmidhi, Abu Dawood-- saheeh by al-Albaani)

The above hadeeth shows that their hems were touching the ground *to make sure that their feet don’t show*. 

Shaikh ibn Uthaymeen said:

"Covering the feet is something that is prescribed for women and is in fact obligatory for them according to many scholars. What a woman should do is cover her feet, either with her garment which is long and covers them or by wearing socks or shoes and the like."

(Fataawa al-Mar’ah al-Muslimah, 1/437)

And Shaikh Ibn Baaz said:

"With regard to women, they have to make their clothes long enough to cover their feet, because the feet are ‘awrah."

(Majmoo’ Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn Baaz)

 *But isn’t there an opinion that I don’t HAVE to cover my feet*?

Yes there’s a difference of opinion among the ulama about covering the feet. 

But think about it this way. 

What if we ARE supposed to cover our feet and we don’t.

We can’t take that ‘chance’ and put our Hijaab and Salaah in jeopardy. 

After all, this is the *Hijaab*, the *Salaah* we’re talking about. 

Wouldn’t it better and MUCH SAFER and more PRUDENT to cover the feet, just to be on the safe side?

BUT I get REALLY HOT with socks

Dear sister, even if it's hot, the rules of hijaab still apply, right? 

Try and find socks that are not that thick or made of breathable cotton or some light material. 

Remember there's always khair in obeying Allaah. 

These are just insignificant little 'challenges' and tests from Allaah that He sends our way to see how steadfast we are in our obedience to Him. 

All we need to do is prove to Him, no rather to ourselves, that we're ready to push ourselves and strive in His obedience. 

*Last but not the least*

Obviously all this is in effect if we are wearing proper hijaab. 

I mean it's pretty useless to cover our feet while our hair and the rest of the bodies are not covered properly. 

May Allaah give us the taufeeq to implement His Orders and obey Him in a manner that’s pleasing to Him. Ameen.

And Allaah knows best.