Are women obliged to wear certain uniform other than the regular Hijab when performing prayers or visiting mosque?
In fact, there is no evidence in the Prophet’s Sunnah to indicate any difference between women’s normal Islamic dress code and what they should wear during prayers or when going to mosques.
Hijab On, No Perfume
– Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said:
May Allah have mercy on the early immigrant women. When the verse {…they should draw their veils over their bosoms} (An-Nur 31) was revealed, they tore their outer garments and made veils from them.
She also said: The believing women used to attend the Fajr prayer with Allah’s Apostle covered with their veiling sheets, and after finishing the prayer they would return to their homes.
The only restriction emphasized in this context is the prohibition of wearing noticeable perfume when going to mosque.
– Zainab, the wife of Abdullah ibn Mas`ud, reported:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said to us: When any one of you comes to mosque, she should not apply perfume.
– Abu Hurayrah also narrated that the Prophet said:
“Do not prevent the female servants of Allah from visiting Allah’s mosques; when they come to mosque, they should be free of fragrance“
– It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah also that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Any woman who has been perfumed with incense should not attend the `Isha’ [prayer] with us.”
– One Day Abu Hurayrah passed by a woman whose perfume spread that he smelt it; her clothes were also fluttering in the air.
He said: O servant of the Almighty, are you coming from the mosque?
She replied: Yes.
He said: You used perfume for it?
She replied: Yes.
He said: I heard my beloved Abu Al-Qasim (the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him) say:
The prayer of a woman who uses perfume for this mosque is not accepted until she returns and takes a bath like the Janabah bath.
However, this restriction is not limited to mosques. Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘Any woman puts on perfume then passes by people so that they can smell her fragrance then she is an adulteress.‘”
Summary
There is no special cloth for women visiting mosques or during prayers other than the dress code stipulated by the Shariah. Noticeable perfume, however, needs to be avoided by women when visiting mosques.
* Translated from the Arabic original by AboutIslam.net.