Wearing toppee during Salah

Q. Is it important to wear a toppee during Salah?

R. The scholars agree that it is obligatory (Farz) to hide one's satr while performing Salah. Since the head and hair are considered satr for ladies, they must cover these two parts of their bodies when performing Salah. As for the man, for his Salah to be valid, it is not obligatory for him to cover his head as it is not considered part of the male Satr.

However, it is said in the Qur'an:

"O children of Adam! Adopt your beauty at every place of salah. Eat, drink ..." (7:31)

Allaamah Abu Bakr al-Jassaas (Rahimahullah) and Muhammad A'li al-Saabuni (Rahimahullah) say that it is in the light of this verse that it is recommended to beautify oneself and be elegant during Salah. In addition, the Grand Mufti of Pakistan, Muhammad Shafi'i (Rahimahullah), in his famous Tafsir Ma'aariful Qur'an says that there is wisdom in using the word 'zeenat' instead of 'libaas' in this verse. Allah Ta'ala used the word 'Zeenat' instead of 'libaas' to show us that it is not only important to cover one's satr, but it is equally important to be elegant in Salah. Thus, any dress that goes against 'zeenat' would be 'Makruh'. It is on the basis of this that it is Makruh to perform the Salah bare-headed or short-sleeved or in light clothing. So the Fuqaha have declared that it is Makruh to perform Salah without covering one's head. The toppee, being a means of covering one's head, should be considered as Sunnah - a Sunnah that was practiced regularly by Rasulullah (Sallallaahu A'laihi Wasallam) except when he was in the state of Ihraam or sometimes when travelling.

[English version of "Le port du bonnet pendant la Salaah" – Al Haadi – Vol. 1 No. 4]