I ask you, may Allah reward you, to clarify the correct legal ruling regarding touching the legs of the person praying next to one.
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The questioner : I ask you, may Allah reward you, to clarify the correct legal ruling regarding touching the legs of the person praying next to one?
The Shaykh : Touching the legs?
The questioner : Touching the legs of the person praying next to one?
The Shaykh : Yes. The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), when they stood in the rows, would place one’s ankle against his companion’s ankle, and his shoulder against his companion’s shoulder, or his shoulder against his companion’s shoulder, for two purposes: the first purpose is to achieve alignment, and the second purpose is to close the gaps. Placing the ankle against the ankle is not intended for its own sake, but rather for the sake of something else, which is achieving alignment and closeness. Based on this, it becomes clear that what some people do now, where they spread their legs and bend the leg in order for the ankles to touch, has no basis. The Companions did not say: “The man would spread his legs until he touched his companion’s ankle.” Rather, they said: “They would stand close together until one of them would touch his companion’s ankle with his own ankle.” However, some people do not take the time to understand the texts until they know what is intended; otherwise, it is not possible for anyone to claim that the meaning is: the man spreads his legs while the upper part of the body remains distant. This is not possible, and no one says this. Yes.
The Shaykh : Touching the legs?
The questioner : Touching the legs of the person praying next to one?
The Shaykh : Yes. The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), when they stood in the rows, would place one’s ankle against his companion’s ankle, and his shoulder against his companion’s shoulder, or his shoulder against his companion’s shoulder, for two purposes: the first purpose is to achieve alignment, and the second purpose is to close the gaps. Placing the ankle against the ankle is not intended for its own sake, but rather for the sake of something else, which is achieving alignment and closeness. Based on this, it becomes clear that what some people do now, where they spread their legs and bend the leg in order for the ankles to touch, has no basis. The Companions did not say: “The man would spread his legs until he touched his companion’s ankle.” Rather, they said: “They would stand close together until one of them would touch his companion’s ankle with his own ankle.” However, some people do not take the time to understand the texts until they know what is intended; otherwise, it is not possible for anyone to claim that the meaning is: the man spreads his legs while the upper part of the body remains distant. This is not possible, and no one says this. Yes.