Illumine

There has previously been a thread similar this, but my exact question was not answered so I thought I would ask again, I hope that is OK.

I know that when praying a person's clothes should be clean. At home I have a prayer outfit which I use and can always keep clean.

At work it is a different story. I work as a cleaner, and although I start off the day in clean clothes by noon they are often not perfect. I was wondering if it would be acceptable to put a clean garment (such as abaya, which is what I pray in at home) on top of my own clothes and pray in that?

Changing completely would be difficult as the room where I pray has glass in the door, so I couldn't change in there. I would have to change in the ladies restroom, walk through the entire office, down the stairs, potentially past customers in the shop and then into the little room where I pray. I really don't think that would be acceptable to my employers!

If anyone can think of a way that I can make this work, I would be very grateful!

arthra

Baha'is are not required to wear "prayer clothes" or an "Abaya"... Yes generally we should wear clean clothes and garments. It may be you're trying to complicate matters in order to pray. At least for Baha'is there are no definitive requirements for say "prayer clothes".

Illumine

I only have separate prayer clothes to ensure that I always have something that is clean and decent at home to change into because I know my work clothes will be dirty. Having something that is only for prayer means I'm not tempted to wear it to work, and (you guessed it!) get it dirty. I would much rather just pray in my own clothes at work, but I don't want to say the one prayer everyday and it not be accepted because my clothes are not perfectly clean. That would make me feel very despondent.

If it's definitely not acceptable for me to pray in slightly dirty clothes, and nor is it OK for me to put clean clothes on top of them then I will just have to accept that I can't pray at work, which limits my choice of prayers but is hardly the end of the world

Emilia

Friend, why is it not acceptable for you to pray in slightly dirty clothes?

Doesn't your job as a cleaner constitute a "good reason" if your clothes are not perfectly clean?

I worked in an office. If my clothes were not clean, it would mean I was just a slob.

In your case, it means you're busy at worshipping through your work.

Occasionally these days I do container gardening for offices. It's messy work to be sure. If I'm going to pray I do wash my hands at least.

Aquedita

Lovely Emilia is correct, was just about to contribute an identical view on the issue. As long as you remember about ablutions and focus on pure heart and clear mind I would certainly hope the prayer is valid. Have to admit,there are days when I do my devotionals in pajamas or other not so formal attire.

That been said, I kind of like the idea of prayer clothes. Somehow it makes the prayer time even more special therefore enhancing the experience. Is it just me?

Emilia

Aquedita:

Thank you especially for your comment about "pure heart and clear mind" in regards to prayer. I'm sure cleanliness is important and desirable, but how much more so the state of mind? *shrug*

I have to say that the idea of prayer clothes to me is sort of um...off-putting.

I'm pretty sure this is due to my Calvinist upbringing, and no doubt in the religious community I was raised in would've been considered "legalistic" and rejected. In fact the first thing that entered my head about the idea of prayer clothes was "legalistic!"

I suppose you can take the girl out of the Calvinism, but you can't always take the Calvinism out of the girl. LOL

Still, if there were a clear command for some special prayer attire from Baha'u'llah, I would just have to get used to it.

I suppose some special attire may help people put themselves in a right frame of mind. I'm just not sure it would make any difference to me.

Mostly my problems with staying in a right frame of mind have to do with keeping my cats from getting underfoot.

Aquedita

Dear Emilia,

I appreciate your point because I realize our upbringing has a significant impact on our views. Don't you think it would be interesting to hear form Friends who come form Muslim background? The might see things differently form us.

Right, that's my understanding as well. I am not saying it would work perfectly for me, just pointing out that others might find it helpful. On the other hand, should it be an actual law, it would be slightly inconvenient.

Also, please say "Hi!" to your adorable cats form me

Fadl

Dear Illumine,

I admire your concern for cleanliness in prayer and your determination to perform your prayer in the best way. I believe cleanliness and having and attitude towards cleanliness, especially in prayer, are very important. That being said, ours is a moderate faith and we must also check that we are walking our spiritual path with practical feet and using "moderation in all things" as an overarching principle that keeps us doing everything in the way that is healthful and beneficial.

Probably a great many Baha'is coming from Western backgrounds that do not have traditions of ablutions before prayer and complicated rules about what ritual purity is, and are possibly too lax in regards to cleanliness and prayer, probably due to not being aware of the Baha'i teachings about it such as revealed in the Aqdas and due to the fact that we all come to anything with our own backgrounds and cultural bias that influences how we see and practice to Baha'i faith, right or wrong.

While I admire your awareness and concern for cleanliness in prayer, there is another part to what the Aqdas has revealed to us about the matter, which is that in such a circumstance that a person's garments are soiled where it is unavoidable, then there is no blame on such a person. So our faith is very moderate, and allows for reasonable circumstances where someone might need to pray with less than immaculate clothes. The exemption from cleanliness, therefore, is equally as much a part of the law as cleanliness is. All that is left to do, is to honestly assess which category is applicable to your circumstance at any given time and apply it. However, if you are feeling guilty about it, or that you are not doing well in your prayer for feeling not clean enough, then surely you can make some adjustments in how you clean yourself beforehand so that you feel you have done what you reasonably can, and then see if your prayer is better. It will be your own conscience that can best judge this for you. Remember, all things that God has given us are for our own good and benefit. God does not need our prayers and is not offended by dirt. Therefore, make your prayer the most pleasing and the most beneficial for yourself, and that will surely be the prayer that is most pleasing to God.

Illumine

Thank you for your helpful replies.

Emilia - That makes me feel much better, that was just the quote I needed.
Aquedita - I have also prayed in my pyjamas on a few occasions especially when all my clothes are in the wash!

Fadl - Thank you for your thoughtful reply. You are right moderation is the key and is part of what attracted me to the Baha'i Faith. I am a person who worries quite a bit about getting things 'right', which can be a good thing in certain circumstances but can of course lead to perfectionism and feelings of not being good enough. This is a tendency I certainly need to work on.