These narrations have therefore been cited to prove that it is permissible to perform the prayer in a single garment. Al-Nawawī says: “There is no disagreement on this point, except for what is related from Ibn Masʿūd—may Allah be pleased with him—and I do not know whether that report is sound.”

I say: He seems to be alluding to the report recorded by Ibn Abī Shaybah from Ibn Masʿūd, who said, “Do not pray in a single cloth even if it were wider than the distance between heaven and earth.” Al-Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar cites it in Fatḥ al-Bārī and offers no comment.

This statement of Ibn Masʿūd may be understood as referring to a case where another garment is available, as is indicated by his other narration. ʿAbdallāh ibn Aḥmad relates in the Zawāʾid to the Musnad, through two chains, from Abū Masʿūd al-Jarīrī, from Abū Naḍrah b. Baqiyyah, who said: Ubayy ibn Kaʿb declared, “Praying in a single garment is a sunnah; we used to do so with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and no one found fault with us.” Ibn Masʿūd replied, “That was only when clothing was scarce; but once Allah has granted abundance, praying in two garments is purer.”

All the transmitters are trustworthy, the same men found in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim. Nevertheless, al-Haythamī remarks in Majmaʿ al-Zawāʾid: “Abū Naḍrah did not hear from Ubayy nor from Ibn Masʿūd.”