AOA,
I have been praying for years with a long duppata/scarf, sleeves, and socks to cover my awrah and I read somewhere that if you are praying and you feel your awrah is exposed, but when you started and ended praying you saw your awrah is covered, then do not give in to the doubt. However, as I gain more and more Islamic knowledge alhamdullilah, I have realized that maybe this does not apply to this one situation I am facing where the scarf sort of hangs and is not touching my neck when I go down for sajdah. It is hard to explain, but from the front, my neck is covered, but it is possible from the side my neck might be showing in sujood since the scarf is not clinging to my skin. When not in sajdah, my scarf is very long and everything is covered. I have prayed years like this thinking it is okay and now I am very scared if this means my awrah might have been exposed and my salat invalidated. I know how important and serious salat is and I am scared about being unforgiven by Allah SWT for this repetitive mistake as I know salat is not excused, and even missed prayers from years ago must be made up. Does this mean all my namaz’s for my entire life since they became fardh for me have to be made up or can I repent sincerely and ask for forgiveness as Allah SWT is very merciful and forgiving? I am very stressed and unsure of what to do.
Sorry for the really long post. I tried to be as detailed as possible.
JazakAllah khair for your help.
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Sister in Islam,
You state you did wear a scarf etc. and covered your awrah. The mere doubt of the neck being exposed does not invalidate your Salah. Your Salah is valid beyond doubt
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Hammad Ibn Ismail Jogiat
Student Darul Iftaa
Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.