Answer: It is impermissible to wear tight-fitting clothes that cling to the body, outline the woman’s figure, her buttocks, and the contours of her limbs. The same ruling applies to men, yet the prohibition is more emphatic for women because the temptation (fitnah) they could cause is greater.

With regard to the prayer itself: whenever a person prays while his ʿawrah is covered, the prayer is, in principle, valid, for the requirement of covering the ʿawrah has been met. Nevertheless, whoever performs the prayer in constricting attire is sinful, first, because the tightness of the garment may prevent him from carrying out some of the duties of the prayer; and second, as already noted, because such clothing accentuates the body’s shape, becomes a cause of temptation, and draws people’s gazes—especially in the case of a woman.

A Muslim woman, therefore, must envelop herself in a loose, ample garment that conceals her completely, does not trace any part of her body, and does not attract attention. It must not be thin or transparent; rather, it must be opaque, providing full coverage so that nothing of her body is visible. The garment may not be short, leaving her calves, arms, or hands uncovered; nor may she appear unveiled, exposing her face. Her entire body must be concealed, and the fabric must not be see-through so that her figure or skin tone can be perceived, for such a garment is not considered proper covering.

In an authentic hadith the Prophet ﷺ said: “Two categories of my community I have not yet seen: men holding whips like the tails of cattle with which they strike people, and women who are clothed yet naked, swaying and causing others to sway; they will not even smell the fragrance of Paradise.”

The phrase “clothed yet naked” means that although these women have some fabric on, they are in reality naked, for their clothing does not conceal them; it is merely decorative and affords no true cover.