http://www.albalagh.net/qa/covering_head.shtml Q) Is the prayer valid if Imam of the mosque does not cover his head with cap or same cloth? What kind of requirement is it to cover one's head in prayers. Is it wajib, Mustahab, or what? (Zubair A. Khan, Chicago) A) Covering one's head during salah is a sunnah and one should act upon it to the best possible extent, however, it is not a mandatory condition for the validity of salah therefore, the obligation is discharged without it, though devoid of the blessings of sunnah. We should try our best to make our salah as close to the sunnah as possible. Even a slight carelessness may deprive us from the barakah and reward which every sunnah of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, may bring to his true follower. Therefore, we should not take this matter lightly.