How to Align the Rows in Prayer

Question : The questioner asks: What is the most correct method for aligning the rows? Is it aligning the feet only at the toes? Or is it aligning the heels? And is it part of the Sunnah to press one’s foot against the foot of the person next to him in the row? Or is it sufficient for the legs to be close together by a small amount, such as the width of the toes?

Answer : Yes, the correct view is that the standard for aligning the rows is aligning the heels with one another. Not the toes, because the body is built upon the heel.
And the feet vary in length; there is the long foot and the short foot, so it is not possible to ensure equality except by the heel. As for pressing the heels together, there is no doubt that this is reported from the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), for they used to align the rows by pressing their heels together. That is, each one of them would press his heel against his neighbor’s heel to achieve alignment and straighten the row. It is not intended for its own sake, but it is intended for the sake of something else, as the scholars mentioned, to achieve equality. Therefore, when the rows are formed and the people stand, each person should press his heel against his companion’s heel to achieve equality only. This does not mean that he must maintain this contact and remain pressed against him throughout the entire prayer.
And an exaggeration in this matter is what some people do: you find one pressing his heel against his companion’s heel and spreading his feet apart in between, so that there is a gap between him and his neighbor at the shoulders, because he spreads his legs too much. And if he spreads his legs too much, the upper part will be open, which contradicts the Sunnah in this regard. The intention is that the shoulders and heels are aligned. Yes.