Performing Salaah With Short Sleeves

If the sleeves of one’s Kurta by its very nature is short, then as long as the elbows are concealed and a person does not feel uneasy or awkward to present himself in front of an honourable person in such clothing, offering the Salaah in such a state will be valid without Karaahah (dislike). This is contrary to the situation when the sleeves are so short that the elbows are exposed; as offering the Salaah in such clothing is neither narrated nor established from Rasulullah ﷺ and it is understood according to the norms of a Muslim society that a person should not present himself is such a state before an honourable person. Therefore, offering the Salaah in such a state will not be in conformance with the Sunnah, hence, it should be avoided.

Furthermore, when it is not becoming of a Muslim to present himself in the court of an honorable person whilst wearing such clothing, then how could it be fitting for one to present himself in front of Allahﷻ in such clothing. In essence, when performing Salaah, one is not communicating or presenting himself in front of just an honorable person, rather he is presenting himself in front of the Creator of those honorable people, he is presenting himself before the King of kings, Allahﷻ. When considering these factors, one ought to acknowledge that even though performing Salaah in such clothing will not render the Salaah invalid, it should be avoided based on the above-stated reasons.

Allah Ta’ala says:

يَٰبَنِيٓ ءَادَمَ خُذُواْ زِينَتَكُمۡ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسۡجِد وَكُلُواْ وَٱشۡرَبُواْ وَلَا تُسۡرِفُوٓاْۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُسۡرِفِينَ

O children of Adam, take your adornment at every masjid, and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess 

[Al-A’raf: 31]