Back showing during prayer

Question

If a man’s back shows during prayer, e.g., when doing sajda or ruku, does his prayer become invalid?

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

The awrah (private area) of a male is from (below) the navel until and including the knees. Furthermore, from the navel until the region where the pubic hair grows and that area parallel to it of the sides, back, and stomach is all considered one limb. Thus, if at least one-fourth of this limb is exposed unintentionally for the duration of being able to say subhanAllah thrice, the prayer would become invalid.

Fatawa Hindiya: v. 1, p. 65 (DKI); Raddul Muhtar: v. 2, p. 83 (Maktaba Imdadia)

Only Allah knows best

Written by Maulana Mohammad Ahsan Osmani

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham