Question

What is the authenticity of the following narration?

“When any one of you performs Salah then he should not place his shoes on his right hand side nor on his left hand side. This is because his left hand side is the right hand side of another person, unless there is no person on his left hand side. He should place them in between his legs.”

Answer

Imam Abu Dawud (rahimahullah) has recorded the narration in question on the authority of Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu).

(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 654)

Imam Ibn Khuzaymah and Imam Ibn Hibban (rahimahumallah) have declared the Hadith as authentic.

(Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, Hadith; 1016 -with slight variation in the wording- and Sahih Ibn Hibban; Al Ihsan, Hadith: 2188)

This Hadith proves that the feet should be kept away from each other in the saff [row], contrary to what some contemporaries enforce by sticking their ankles/toes to the person’s next to them.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar