Messenger of Allah, what if one of us is alone?”
He answered:
“Allah is worthier that one feel shy before Him than before other people.” 1
If such modesty is required outside the prayer, it is even more warranted during the prayer itself; therefore one should adorn himself when he stands to converse with his Lord, exalted be He.
For this reason Ibn ʿUmar once said to his servant Nāfiʿ when he saw him praying bare-headed, “Tell me, if you were going out to meet people, would you appear like this?” He replied, “No.” Ibn ʿUmar said, “Allah is more deserving that one beautify himself for Him.” 2
Likewise, in the sound hadith, when it was said to the Prophet ﷺ, “A man likes his clothes and his shoes to be fine,” he replied,
“Allah is beautiful and loves beauty.” 3
Just as the worshipper has been instructed to maintain ritual purity, cleanliness, and pleasant fragrance, the Prophet ﷺ also commanded: “Set aside prayer-spaces in your homes and keep them clean and scented.” 4
Accordingly, the covering one adopts in prayer should be more complete than what a man observes before other men or a woman before other women.