❖ 3 Sharʿi Evidences for Joining the Heels During Sujūd (Prostration) ❖
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah, Volume 1 – Kitāb al-Ṣalāh – Page 384
Some Companions who described the Prophet’s ﷺ prayer in great detail did not explicitly mention joining the heels during sujūd. One narration suggests that the Prophet ﷺ had both his feet joined while in prostration, but it might not have been during ṣalāh.
The questions are:
➊ Have the muhaddithūn understood this narration to refer specifically to ṣalāh?
➋ Have hadith scholars dedicated chapters to joining the heels during sujūd?
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
This act is authentically established from the Prophet ﷺ in the context of ṣalāh, based on the following three core evidences:
The practice of joining the heels during sujūd is reported with sound isnād in the following collections:
➤ Imām al-Dhahabī also confirmed its authenticity.
Even if numerous narrators have not transmitted a specific Sunnah,
a single authentic narration from a reliable Companion is legally binding in Sharīʿah.
Hence, the lack of frequent mention does not undermine the validity of the narration regarding joining the heels during prostration.
To reinforce this Sunnah, muhaddithūn have dedicated specific chapters to this very practice.
For example:
Imām Ibn Khuzaymah titled a chapter:
“Bāb Ḍamm al-ʿAqibayn fī al-Sujūd”
“Chapter: Joining the Heels During Sujūd”
This confirms that the narration is indeed related to prayer, not to general prostration outside ṣalāh.
✔ Joining the heels during sujūd is a practice established by authentic Sunnah.
✔ Hadith scholars have understood it to apply to ṣalāh, and even established dedicated chapters to support it.
✔ Whether leading prayer, praying in congregation, or praying alone, every Muslim should try to follow this Sunnah.
Your assumption, that this practice is not proven in prayer, is incorrect based on the above evidence.
ھذا ما عندي، واللہ أعلم بالصواب
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah, Volume 1 – Kitāb al-Ṣalāh – Page 384
✦ Question:
Some Companions who described the Prophet’s ﷺ prayer in great detail did not explicitly mention joining the heels during sujūd. One narration suggests that the Prophet ﷺ had both his feet joined while in prostration, but it might not have been during ṣalāh.
The questions are:
➊ Have the muhaddithūn understood this narration to refer specifically to ṣalāh?
➋ Have hadith scholars dedicated chapters to joining the heels during sujūd?
✔ Answer:
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
◈ Yes — Joining the Heels in Sujūd Is Proven with Authentic Evidence
This act is authentically established from the Prophet ﷺ in the context of ṣalāh, based on the following three core evidences:
❶ Authentic Narration:
The practice of joining the heels during sujūd is reported with sound isnād in the following collections:
Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Khuzaymah (Ḥadīth 654)- Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān (al-Iḥsān) (Ḥadīth 1930)
- al-Sunan al-Kubrā by al-Bayhaqī (Vol. 2, Pg. 116)
- al-Ḥākim declared the narration *Ṣaḥīḥ ʿalā sharṭ al-Shaykhayn (Vol. 1, Pgs. 228–229)
➤ Imām al-Dhahabī also confirmed its authenticity.
❷ One Companion’s Hadith Is Sufficient
Even if numerous narrators have not transmitted a specific Sunnah,
a single authentic narration from a reliable Companion is legally binding in Sharīʿah.
Hence, the lack of frequent mention does not undermine the validity of the narration regarding joining the heels during prostration.
❸ Hadith Scholars Established Chapters on It
To reinforce this Sunnah, muhaddithūn have dedicated specific chapters to this very practice.
For example:
Imām Ibn Khuzaymah titled a chapter:
“Bāb Ḍamm al-ʿAqibayn fī al-Sujūd”
“Chapter: Joining the Heels During Sujūd”
This confirms that the narration is indeed related to prayer, not to general prostration outside ṣalāh.
❖ Conclusion:
✔ Joining the heels during sujūd is a practice established by authentic Sunnah.
✔ Hadith scholars have understood it to apply to ṣalāh, and even established dedicated chapters to support it.
✔ Whether leading prayer, praying in congregation, or praying alone, every Muslim should try to follow this Sunnah.
Your assumption, that this practice is not proven in prayer, is incorrect based on the above evidence.
ھذا ما عندي، واللہ أعلم بالصواب
