Question:-
Is it a sunnah of Nabi ﷺ to perform salaah with shoes on?
Also is it permissible to perform salaah with one’s shoes on?
Answer:-
Undoubtedly, there are narrations which prove that Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam performed Salaah with shoes. Hadrat Abu Saeed Khudri Radiallahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam led the Salaah one day and removed his shoes during Salaah. The Sahaaba then removed their shoes. When Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam terminated his Salaah, he questioned them as to why they had removed their shoes? They said, “We saw you removing your shoes (hence we followed suit).” Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “Jibraeel Alaihis Salaam came to me and informed me that there is impurity attached to them, hence, I removed them.”
رَوَى أَبُو سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيُّ فِي حَدِيثِ خَلْعِ النِّعَالِ «أَنَّهُ – صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ – صَلَّى يَوْمًا فَخَلَعَ نَعْلَيْهِ فِي الصَّلَاةِ فَخَلَعَ الْقَوْمُ نِعَالَهُمْ، فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ سَأَلَهُمْ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالُوا رَأَيْنَاك خَلَعْت نَعْلَيْك، فَقَالَ – عَلَيْهِ الصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ -: أَتَانِي جِبْرِيلُ – عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ – وَأَخْبَرَنِي أَنَّ بِهِمَا أَذًى فَخَلَعْتهمَا، ثُمَّ قَالَ: إذَا أَتَى أَحَدُكُمْ الْمَسْجِدَ فَلْيَقْلِبْ نَعْلَيْهِ فَإِنْ كَانَ بِهِمَا أَذًى فَلْيَمْسَحْهُمَا بِالْأَرْضِ فَإِنَّ الْأَرْضَ لَهُمَا طَهُورٌ (العناية شرح الهداية ص 195 ج1)
However, we are Muqallids and follow the teachings of the Fuqaha. When the jurists reach a conclusion in a particular matter, they study all the Ahadith on the subject and then conclude on the matter. Therefore, we cannot study a single Hadith and reach conclusion by saying that it is Sunnah to perform Salaah with shoes,hence, we too, should be performing Salaah with shoes. In this day and age, our Masajid are fully carpeted, whereas the Masajid were not carpeted during the era of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam, in fact, stones were spread all over Masjid-un-Nabawi. If a person enters the Masjid with shoes nowadays, then he will dirty the carpet even though the shoes may be free of impurities, hence, Allamah Shaami Rahimahullah states that if one fears dirtying the Masjid carpets with his shoes, then he should not wear them (in the Masjid) even though they may be Taahir (free of impurities). Some of the jurists have even stated that entering the Masjid with shoes is considered as disrespect.
لكن إذا خشي تلويث فرش المسجد بها ينبغي عدمه وإن كانت طاهرة. وأما المسجد النبوي فقد كان مفروشا بالحصى في زمنه – صلى الله عليه وسلم – بخلافه في زماننا، ولعل ذلك محمل ما في عمدة المفتي من أن دخول المسجد متنعلا من سوء الأدب تأمل (رد المحتار ص657 ج1)
Fataawa Aalamghiri states that it is Makrooh to wear shoes and enter the Masjid, even though the shoes may be perfectly clean, thus, a person should not perform Salaah with shoes in the Masjid.
ودخول المسجد متنعلا مكروه (علمكيري ص321 ج5)
Yes, if a person is performing Salaah in some open field such as an Eidgah where Salaah is performed on the grass, then performing Salaah with shoes will be acceptable (if free of impurities and the toes are able to bend towards the Qibla in Sajda), but then too, it is necessary for one to refrain from doing so, as such an action could lead to Fitna.
Re:- Fataawa Mahmoodiyya Pg.118 Vol.11
ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Date: 07 Rajab 1443 / 09 February 2022
