A mu‘allim wrote to Hazrat Amirul Momineen, Khalifatul Masih Vaa, asking whether it is an innovation and an undesirable practice to wear plastic caps and other similar headwear – provided at mosques – and to pray while wearing them. Moreover, the mu‘allim asked whether it is appropriate to perform the sunnah prayer at Fajr while the dars of the Holy Quran is being delivered, since Allah the Exalted says in the Holy Quran that one should listen to the Holy Quran with attention and observe silence when it is recited. Huzoor-e-Anwaraa, in his letter dated 28 March 2022, provided the following answer to his questions.
“As far as possible, one should wear appropriate and clean clothes when going to the mosque, as Allah has commanded us to look to our adornment at every mosque. (Surah al-A‘raf, Ch.7: V.32) In this directive, in addition to spiritual purity of the heart, outward cleanliness of clothes and body is also included. Therefore, as far as possible, appropriate attire should be worn when visiting mosques, and this includes covering the head. Throughout the history of Islam, it has been a common practice of the elders of the Ummah to cover their heads with an ‘imamah, turban, or cap. It is also narrated in the hadiths from various companions that the Holy Prophetsa used to wear an ‘imamah.
“Hence, Jabir bin Abdullah al-Ansarira reported that Allah’s Messengersa entered Mecca [and Qutaiba (another narrator) stated that he entered Mecca] on the Day of the Victory, wearing a black turban. Likewise, Amr bin Huraith reported [on the authority of his father] that Allah’s Messengersa addressed the people while wearing a black turban on his head. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-hajj, Bab jawazi dukhuli makkata bi-ghayri ihram)
“Thus, keeping some clean plastic or cloth caps in the mosque would not seem to pose any issue if worshippers wish to use them, but rather it could be considered a good practice, as it would be equivalent to promoting [the wearing of caps]. Some people prefer not to pray bare-headed, and if they are provided with such a cap in the mosque, they would happily wear it and pray. However, it is important to note that no one should be compelled to pray while wearing those particular caps.
“If someone wants to wear these particular caps, provided in the mosque, willingly and happily, then they should not be stopped, and if someone does not want to wear them, then they should not be forced [to wear those particular caps]. […]”