Taken from: "Ahkam wa Masail in the Light of the Qur’an and Hadith", Volume 02
What is the ruling on placing one’s shoes in front while performing salah? Does the prayer become invalid if the shoes are placed ahead? I read in a Hadith that the Prophet ﷺ removed his sandals during prayer and the Companions also removed theirs. Please clarify this matter.
✦ There are authentic Hadiths regarding removing shoes and where to place them during salah.
In a narration from Sunan Abu Dawud, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"When one of you prays, he should not place his shoes to his right or to his left where they may be in someone else’s direction. Unless there is no one to his left, he should place them between his feet."
(Abu Dawud, Kitab al-Salah, Bab al-Musalli Idha Khalaʿa Naʿlayhi Ayna Yadaʿuhuma)
This Hadith clarifies the proper placement of shoes during prayer. The Prophet ﷺ explicitly instructed that shoes should not be placed to the right or left, as it may disturb fellow worshipers. Rather, they should be placed between the feet to avoid causing inconvenience.
As for the claim that “if shoes are placed ahead, the prayer becomes invalid”, there is no explicit verse or authentic Hadith to support this assertion. The validity of salah depends on core conditions such as wudu (ablution), facing the Qiblah, covering the ‘awrah (modesty), and maintaining concentration and humility—not on the specific location of the shoes.
Nonetheless, placing the shoes between the feet is considered better and in accordance with the Sunnah, as per the guidance given in the Hadith.
① During salah, it is Sunnah to place one’s shoes between the feet.
② Placing shoes to the right or left may cause discomfort to others and should be avoided.
③ Placing shoes in front does not invalidate the prayer, as no specific ruling prohibits this.
④ Observing the Sunnah and avoiding inconvenience to others is preferred.
Wallāhu Aʿlam.
❀ Question:
What is the ruling on placing one’s shoes in front while performing salah? Does the prayer become invalid if the shoes are placed ahead? I read in a Hadith that the Prophet ﷺ removed his sandals during prayer and the Companions also removed theirs. Please clarify this matter.
❀ Answer:
✦ There are authentic Hadiths regarding removing shoes and where to place them during salah.
In a narration from Sunan Abu Dawud, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"When one of you prays, he should not place his shoes to his right or to his left where they may be in someone else’s direction. Unless there is no one to his left, he should place them between his feet."
(Abu Dawud, Kitab al-Salah, Bab al-Musalli Idha Khalaʿa Naʿlayhi Ayna Yadaʿuhuma)
This Hadith clarifies the proper placement of shoes during prayer. The Prophet ﷺ explicitly instructed that shoes should not be placed to the right or left, as it may disturb fellow worshipers. Rather, they should be placed between the feet to avoid causing inconvenience.
✿ Clarification on the Validity of Prayer:
As for the claim that “if shoes are placed ahead, the prayer becomes invalid”, there is no explicit verse or authentic Hadith to support this assertion. The validity of salah depends on core conditions such as wudu (ablution), facing the Qiblah, covering the ‘awrah (modesty), and maintaining concentration and humility—not on the specific location of the shoes.
Nonetheless, placing the shoes between the feet is considered better and in accordance with the Sunnah, as per the guidance given in the Hadith.
✔ Summary:
① During salah, it is Sunnah to place one’s shoes between the feet.
② Placing shoes to the right or left may cause discomfort to others and should be avoided.
③ Placing shoes in front does not invalidate the prayer, as no specific ruling prohibits this.
④ Observing the Sunnah and avoiding inconvenience to others is preferred.
Wallāhu Aʿlam.
