Explanation

Ayyūb al-Sakhtiyāni reports from Abu Qilābah al-Jarmi who said: "Why do you not meet ‘Amr ibn Salamah and ask him about the Hadīths that he knows?" He said: "I met ‘Amr ibn Salamah and asked him. So ‘Amr ibn Salamah said: 'We were in a place that we would stay in, and people would pass by. When riders passed by us, we would ask them about the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and the stance of the Arabs toward him. They would say that he claims that Allah has sent him and revealed to him such and such from what they heard of the Qur’an. So I would memorize that Qur’an perfectly as if it was instilled in my heart. The Arabs delayed their conversion to Islam until after Makkah was conquered. They would say: ‘Leave him and his Quraysh folks, for if he has victory over them, then he is a true Prophet.’ So when Makkah was conquered, each tribe hastened to convert, and my father was the first member of my tribe to embrace Islam. He went to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). When he returned from him, he said: ‘By Allah, I have come to you from the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) for sure!’ He told them that the Prophet, may Allah's peace and blessings upon him, said to them: ‘Offer this prayer at this time and that prayer at that time. When the time for a prayer is due, let one of you call the Adhān, and let the one who knows the Qur’an most lead the prayer.’ They checked and found none with more Qur’an than me, for I used to meet the riders and learn the Qur’an from them. So they made me their prayer leader although I was then six or seven years old. I was wearing a short garment that would recede on my body when I would prostrate. A lady from the tribe said: ‘Will you not cover the private parts of your reciter from us?’ So they bought me an apparel. I had never been so happy with anything as I was with that apparel.'" This Hadīth does not indicate that covering one's private parts during prayer is not required, for it only tells the story of a certain incident. It is probable that this incident took place before those involved in it learned of the relevant ruling.