❖ Analytical Review of Three Views on Placing Shoes in Salah
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah, Volume 1, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Page 410
❖ Question:
In reference to an article published in the monthly “Muḥaddith” (November 1999, Shaʿbān 1420 AH, Vol. 31, Issue 11, pp. 61–63), a question was raised about placing shoes in front during prayer. The article was authored by Shaykh Ḥāfiẓ Thanāʾ Allāh al-Madanī ḥafiẓahullāh, wherein he mentioned:
- Shaykh al-Madanī asked Shaykh al-ʿAllāmah al-Albānī رحمه الله whether placing shoes in front during prayer is permissible.
- Shaykh al-Albānī رحمه الله deemed it permissible.
- Shaykh al-Madanī then presented a ḥadīth from al-Muʿjam al-Ṣaghīr of al-Ṭabarānī (p. 165, Anṣārī Press, Delhi).
- Shaykh al-Albānī declared the ḥadīth weak.
- Later, the matter was forwarded to Shaykh ʿAbdullāh Rūprī رحمه الله, who wrote a detailed response (yet to be received).
- The questioner also discussed this with a teacher at Jāmiʿat al-Dirāsāt, who supported Shaykh al-Madanī’s position.
Thus, the questioner seeks a clear, evidence-based clarification of the truth in this matter.
❖ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd:
✦ Referenced Ḥadīth from Ṭabarānī
The ḥadīth quoted by the questioner is likely the following:
"إذا خلع أحدكم نعليه في الصلاة فلا يجعلهما بين يديه فيؤتمّ بهما."
"When any of you removes his shoes in prayer, he should not place them in front of him, lest someone behind him follow them (assuming they are part of the prayer)."
Al-Muʿjam al-Ṣaghīr, Vol. 2, pp. 13–14, Ḥadīth 818, Ṭabarānī edition (Biṭarqīmī)✦ Shaykh al-Albānī’s Opinion
Shaykh Muḥammad Nāṣir al-Dīn al-Albānī رحمه الله graded the above narration as:
"ضعيف جداً" (Extremely weak)
al-Silsilah al-Ḍaʿīfah, Vol. 2, p. 415, Ḥadīth 982✦ Chain Analysis of the Ḥadīth
Two narrators in this chain have been strongly criticized by ḥadīth scholars:
① Ziyād ibn Abī Ziyād al-Jaṣṣāṣ
② Abū Saʿīd al-Musayyib ibn Sharīk al-Shaqrī
✘ Both are severely criticized and considered matrūk al-ḥadīth (abandoned in ḥadīth).
Hence, Shaykh al-Albānī's grading of the narration as "very weak" is accurate and justified.
(Reference: Shahādat, March 2003 edition)❖ Summary & Scholarly Consensus
Based on the established weakness of the ḥadīth, the following conclusions can be drawn:
◈ Placing shoes in front during prayer is not prohibited.
◈ The narration cited cannot serve as a reliable basis for such prohibition due to its extreme weakness.
✔ Final Summary:
✿ Since the ḥadīth is very weak, no obligation arises to act upon it.
✿ It is permissible to place shoes in front while praying, provided:
- The place is clean, and
- It causes no discomfort or obstruction to others.
ھذا ما عندي، واللّٰه أعلم بالصواب
This is what I hold; and Allāh knows best what is correct.
