Alongside wudu, a valid prayer has conditions about clothing and cleanliness. They are worth knowing plainly, without making them more complicated than they are.

The Qur'an says, in an English translation of Surah Al-A'raf, chapter seven, verse thirty-one: “O children of Adam, take your adornment at every masjid.” Scholars understand this to include dressing appropriately for prayer, not only adornment in the literal sense.

The first requirement is covering the awrah, the parts of the body that must be covered in prayer. For men, this is generally from the navel to the knees at minimum, though covering more is normal and expected in practice. Some scholars differ on the precise minimum for men, and covering more than that minimum is common and not discouraged. For women, the awrah in prayer is the whole body except the face and hands, in loose clothing that is not see-through. This lesson is only about the conditions for a valid prayer. Everyday modest dress is a related, but broader, topic.

The second requirement is that your clothing, your body and the place where you pray are free of impurity, which is called najasah. In everyday terms, that means not carrying something like urine, or blood beyond a minor amount. It does not mean your clothes must be new or perfectly spotless. Ordinary cleanliness is the standard, and it is not a difficult one to meet.

If you are a new Muslim and do not yet have any prayer clothes, there is no special garment you need before you can start. Any clean, modest clothing that covers the awrah is enough from day one. A dedicated prayer garment, such as the long, dress-like garment some women use, or the simple loose clothing some men prefer, is a matter of convenience and local custom. It is not a requirement for a valid prayer.

So you can begin praying today, in clothes you already own, as long as they are clean and cover what needs to be covered.