Written by: Ash-Shaykh Mubashshir Ahmad Rabbani (ḥafiẓahullāh)
Is it correct to perform Salah while wearing shoes? Is it obligatory to do so?
If the shoes are clean and pure, and there is no impurity (najāsah) on their soles, then it is permissible to perform Salah while wearing them.
➊ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
إذا جاء أحدكم المسجد فلينظر، فإن رأى في نعليه قذرا أو أذى فليمسحه وليصل فيهما
“When one of you comes to the mosque, he should look at his shoes. If he sees any filth or impurity on them, he should wipe it off and pray in them.”
— [Abū Dāwūd, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh: Chapter on Praying in Shoes, 650]
➋ Sayyidunā Shaddād ibn Aws (رضي الله عنه) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
خالفوا اليهود فإنهم لا يصلون في نعالهم ولا خفافهم
“Oppose the Jews, for they do not pray in their shoes or leather socks (khuff).”
— [Abū Dāwūd, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh: Chapter on Praying in Shoes, 652]
However, this command is not obligatory, as proven by the practice of the Prophet ﷺ himself.
➌ Sayyidunā ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما) reported:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would sometimes pray barefoot and at other times wearing shoes.
— [Abū Dāwūd, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh: Chapter on Praying in Shoes, 653]
✔ Not obligatory to wear shoes during Salah
✔ Sunnah includes both practices — praying barefoot and in shoes
✔ Encouraged to oppose non-Muslim customs that contradict the Sunnah
❖ Question:
Is it correct to perform Salah while wearing shoes? Is it obligatory to do so?
❖ Answer:
If the shoes are clean and pure, and there is no impurity (najāsah) on their soles, then it is permissible to perform Salah while wearing them.
❖ Evidences from the Sunnah:
➊ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
إذا جاء أحدكم المسجد فلينظر، فإن رأى في نعليه قذرا أو أذى فليمسحه وليصل فيهما
“When one of you comes to the mosque, he should look at his shoes. If he sees any filth or impurity on them, he should wipe it off and pray in them.”
— [Abū Dāwūd, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh: Chapter on Praying in Shoes, 650]
➋ Sayyidunā Shaddād ibn Aws (رضي الله عنه) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
خالفوا اليهود فإنهم لا يصلون في نعالهم ولا خفافهم
“Oppose the Jews, for they do not pray in their shoes or leather socks (khuff).”
— [Abū Dāwūd, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh: Chapter on Praying in Shoes, 652]
However, this command is not obligatory, as proven by the practice of the Prophet ﷺ himself.
➌ Sayyidunā ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما) reported:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would sometimes pray barefoot and at other times wearing shoes.
— [Abū Dāwūd, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh: Chapter on Praying in Shoes, 653]
❖ Summary of Rulings:
✔ Permissible to perform Salah in shoes if they are clean and free from impurity✔ Not obligatory to wear shoes during Salah
✔ Sunnah includes both practices — praying barefoot and in shoes
✔ Encouraged to oppose non-Muslim customs that contradict the Sunnah
