Dr. Ali Fakhr, the Mufti at Egypt’s Fatwa Authority, addressed the ruling on women praying without wearing socks. Scholars disagree on this matter; some consider covering the feet obligatory, while others permit prayers with uncovered feet, as they are not regarded as private parts in prayer.
He explained that if a woman is at home with the freedom to choose, it is recommended to wear socks during prayer to avoid dispute and feel at ease.
If a woman is outside or busy and prayer time begins, she may pray with uncovered feet without abandoning the prayer, based on the opinion that feet are not obligatory to cover. Leaving the prayer is not required, as Islamic law emphasizes facilitation and avoiding hardship.
The Fatwa Authority confirmed that the majority of scholars require women to cover the entire body during prayer except for the face and hands, citing hadiths from Umm Salama regarding covering the feet with flowing garments. Hanafi scholars and Sufyan al-Thawri allowed uncovering the feet, based on the Quranic verse: {…and not display their adornment except what is apparent of it} [An-Nur: 31].
Thus, the prevailing opinion permits women to pray with uncovered feet as a form of ease, and the prayer remains valid without objection.
