❖ Shar‘i Ruling on Wearing Slippers or Shoes While Standing & Relevant Hadiths ❖
Source: Ahkam wa Masail in the Light of the Qur’an and Hadith, Volume 01, Page 510
In some places, such as near washrooms or wudu (ablution) areas—like those in Jamia Muhammadiyah—designated spots for performing wudu are situated close to the toilet area, requiring one to stand while performing ablution.
In such places, sitting to wear slippers seems uncomfortable or unpleasant to some people. It also appears to conflict with the principle:
الدِّينُ يُسْرٌ
“The religion is ease.”
A person once asked Professor Abdullah Nasir Rehmani (حفظه الله) regarding this issue, and he replied that there is a Hadith in Sunan al-Nasa’i indicating that the Prophet ﷺ wore his shoes while sitting. However, at the time, he could not recall the exact reference.
Similarly, in another incident, four companions visited Dr. Fazl Ilahi (حفظه الله). While leaving, one person wore his shoes while sitting, and Dr. Sahib also wore his slippers while sitting. Upon being asked about this, Dr. Sahib replied that although the issue is valid, he personally prefers to wear slippers while sitting.
Therefore, the question is:
What is the Shar‘i ruling regarding wearing slippers?
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد:
If at any particular time or place, it is not feasible to sit while wearing shoes, then it is permissible to bend down and wear them.
As for the reference from Sunan al-Nasa’i that you asked about, I do not currently recall it.
When Dr. Fazl Ilahi (حفظه الله) gave a personal response, it appears he did so to avoid debate, not to imply that the ruling was invalid.
Rather, his answer hints at the fact that slippers (chappals) also fall under the general category of “Na‘l” (shoes) in the language of Hadith.
نَهَى رَسُولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ يَنْتَعِلَ الرَّجُلُ قَائِمًا
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ prohibited a man from wearing shoes while standing.”
It is understood that slippers should also be worn while sitting, as they are included under the term Na‘l.
In Tabaqat Ibn Sa‘d, Volume 1, Page 481, the following narration is recorded:
أخبرنا عبيد الله بن موسى العبسي قال: أخبرنا إسرائيل عن عبد الله بن عيسى عن محمد بن سعيد بن عبد الله بن عطاء عن عائشة قالت:
كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَنْتَعِلُ قَائِمًا وَقَاعِدًا
Aishah (رضي الله عنها) reports:
“The Prophet ﷺ would wear his shoes both while standing and sitting.”
If this narration is proven authentic, it would indicate that the earlier prohibition may be considered Tanzeehi (discouraged but not strictly prohibited) — i.e., Makruh Tanzihi, meaning it is disliked but permissible.
Hence, both methods (sitting and standing) would be permissible, إن شاء الله تبارك وتعالى.
هٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
This is what I know; and Allah knows best what is correct.
Source: Ahkam wa Masail in the Light of the Qur’an and Hadith, Volume 01, Page 510
❀ Question
In some places, such as near washrooms or wudu (ablution) areas—like those in Jamia Muhammadiyah—designated spots for performing wudu are situated close to the toilet area, requiring one to stand while performing ablution.
In such places, sitting to wear slippers seems uncomfortable or unpleasant to some people. It also appears to conflict with the principle:
الدِّينُ يُسْرٌ
“The religion is ease.”
A person once asked Professor Abdullah Nasir Rehmani (حفظه الله) regarding this issue, and he replied that there is a Hadith in Sunan al-Nasa’i indicating that the Prophet ﷺ wore his shoes while sitting. However, at the time, he could not recall the exact reference.
Similarly, in another incident, four companions visited Dr. Fazl Ilahi (حفظه الله). While leaving, one person wore his shoes while sitting, and Dr. Sahib also wore his slippers while sitting. Upon being asked about this, Dr. Sahib replied that although the issue is valid, he personally prefers to wear slippers while sitting.
Therefore, the question is:
What is the Shar‘i ruling regarding wearing slippers?
✔ Response
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد:
If at any particular time or place, it is not feasible to sit while wearing shoes, then it is permissible to bend down and wear them.
As for the reference from Sunan al-Nasa’i that you asked about, I do not currently recall it.
When Dr. Fazl Ilahi (حفظه الله) gave a personal response, it appears he did so to avoid debate, not to imply that the ruling was invalid.
Rather, his answer hints at the fact that slippers (chappals) also fall under the general category of “Na‘l” (shoes) in the language of Hadith.
✿ Therefore, based on the Hadith:
نَهَى رَسُولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ يَنْتَعِلَ الرَّجُلُ قَائِمًا
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ prohibited a man from wearing shoes while standing.”
It is understood that slippers should also be worn while sitting, as they are included under the term Na‘l.
✿ Another Report
In Tabaqat Ibn Sa‘d, Volume 1, Page 481, the following narration is recorded:
أخبرنا عبيد الله بن موسى العبسي قال: أخبرنا إسرائيل عن عبد الله بن عيسى عن محمد بن سعيد بن عبد الله بن عطاء عن عائشة قالت:
كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَنْتَعِلُ قَائِمًا وَقَاعِدًا
Aishah (رضي الله عنها) reports:
“The Prophet ﷺ would wear his shoes both while standing and sitting.”
✿ Implication
If this narration is proven authentic, it would indicate that the earlier prohibition may be considered Tanzeehi (discouraged but not strictly prohibited) — i.e., Makruh Tanzihi, meaning it is disliked but permissible.
Hence, both methods (sitting and standing) would be permissible, إن شاء الله تبارك وتعالى.
هٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
This is what I know; and Allah knows best what is correct.
