Assalamu Alaikum:

So, normally when it's time to pray... I pray in whatever I'm wearing.  I'll change my shirt, if I'm around the house in short-sleeves...but that's about it.  Lately I've been thinking of putting aside (or perhaps making?) a special prayer outfit... or at least a special hijab for salat.  Something that will help add to the sacredness of the experience, perhaps.  Something that will signal to me it is time to worship Allah(swt)... just as my prayer rug does.

Do you have anything like that??

I'm new to praying, but I've discovered I have a problem that I would also run into with the traditional prayer outfits: When I rise from prostration to standing to start the next rakat of prayer, I end up standing on the back hem of my long skirt, and I have to use my hands to get up and pull the skirt from under my feet half way up or fall over! Do you run into this problem? What am I doing wrong?

[QUOTE=witness22;24204]I'm new to praying, but I've discovered I have a problem that I would also run into with the traditional prayer outfits: When I rise from prostration to standing to start the next rakat of prayer, I end up standing on the back hem of my long skirt, and I have to use my hands to get up and pull the skirt from under my feet half way up or fall over! Do you run into this problem? What am I doing wrong?[/QUOTE]


I think that you will find that your skirt is too long for salat. The hem of your skirt should not be below your ankles.  Hem the skirt.

salaam alaykum

I have a two snap black jilbab that a sister gave me a while back.  I use that and a wrap hijab.  I used to have a cotton prayer garmet but I washed it in hot water and now it's fit for mini me.. sigh.

salaams

If I'm on duty I pray in my uniform, whether it's a flight suit or class A's. Off duty if I'm wearing jeans and a tank top I pray in jeans and a tank top, or a skirt and blouse, or running shorts and a halter, or whatever I happen to be wearing. If I'm in a mosque I'm wearing Islamic clothing including a hijab out of respect so in that case I pray in Islamic clothing. And if I'm getting ready for bed and it's time to pray I pray in whatever I'm wearing, or NOT wearing at the time! Obviously, where I happen to be when it's time for prayer has a lot to do with whether or not I do it in the traditional manner, or just in my head while standing or sitting. And if I'm home with my husband what I'm wearing doesn't matter in the least when we pray side by side. Again obviously, whereas I have no problem kneeling and praying according to tradition in my flight suit next to my aircraft (done it zillions of times in Afghanistan, Iraq, and at home stations) I'm not about to do the same thing if I'm in class A's with a knee length skirt!

If this hasn't been figured out yet, I'll state the obvious. I believe that what Allah cares about is that we pray, and that we mean it, and that all the ritual forms are no more than window dressing which are the LEAST important thing!

Salaam,

Aisha