The Shaykh Al-Albani’s refutation of “Salman al-Oudah’s” statement on the issue of pressing the heel against the heel and the shoulder against the shoulder in prayer.

Salman al-Oudah: So a person must be certain that a practice is truly a Sunnah before he applies it. The second observation is the excessive effort in applying the Sunnah. After the young man is certain that this matter is truly a Sunnah, he should apply it with moderation, especially if the Sunnah relates to others, for example: straightening the rows. Both the first and second points apply here. First, be certain regarding straightening the rows: what is the Sunnah in straightening the rows? I have seen many of our brothers among the young students of knowledge believe that the Sunnah in straightening the rows is to press one’s heel against the heel of the person next to him, and to exert excessive effort in doing so, pressing his foot against it with great force. This causes harm to the neighbor, distracts from the prayer, involves excessive effort, and causes fatigue. If it is a established Sunnah, we accept it, but is it a Sunnah? Give us the evidence? The evidence is what the two Shaykhs narrated from al-Nu'man ibn Bashir (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: .
When I examined this hadith, it appeared to me that using it as evidence that this action is a Sunnah is not accepted. First, because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not order it, but rather said: So he ordered the straightening of the rows. The original or apparent meaning of the order to straighten the rows is that there should not be one person in the row ahead and another behind, but rather that everyone should be on the same line. This is what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered. Then al-Nu'man (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "I saw one of us, or I, pressing my heel against my companion's heel." So the meaning seems to be: he presses it at the beginning of the prayer until he is reassured that his body is parallel to his body; because the body is aligned with the heel, not with the toes. People now, when they want to straighten the row, straighten their toes, and this is not correct, because the intention is not for the toes of the feet to be aligned, but for the bodies to be aligned while standing. This does not happen unless the heel is parallel to and level with the heel, your heel level with your neighbor's heel. So if you are reassured that your heel is level with your neighbor's heel, it is not necessary to exert effort to press it against it. In fact, I say that literally pressing the heel against the heel is impossible, because it would require a person to lift his foot to press his heel against his neighbor's heel. The same applies to the shoulder; it would require a person to lean to the right, for example, to press his shoulder against his neighbor's shoulder. And if he leans to the right, a gap appears on the other side, to his left. And so it is known that the apparent meaning of the hadith does not indicate strictness in pressing the heel against the heel, but rather indicates the absence of gaps in the row, and indicates that all bodies should be on one straight line and on the same level. Some people may be strict in this Sunnah to the point of causing people to turn away from it, and to feel resentment and hatred toward it. And perhaps some of the young carriers of the Sunnah and callers to it may fall into this because of such a matter.

The Shaykh: He needs meetings to draw their attention to some ... existing in them or misunderstanding that this enthusiasm with these generalizations that require many details will not be guidance, nor will it be direction and teaching.
The student: Listen to him, listen to him, my Shaykh, O Allah, praise is for You.

The Shaykh: There is no god but Allah, I think we did not come from this path.
The student: The one before it, my Shaykh.

The Shaykh: It can be said to this brother: When the Companions did what they did of pressing the foot against the foot, the heel against the heel, and the shoulder against the shoulder, did they succeed in straightening the rows or did they err? I do not think he would go so far as to say that they erred. So they succeeded. If he says that they succeeded, then did the one who followed them and guided by their guidance succeed or err?
The student: Allah is the Greatest!

The Shaykh: He will certainly say: He succeeded. So what is the basis for criticizing those who, in his claim, are strict in straightening the rows in this manner?
The student: Yes.

The Shaykh: Added to this is what I spoke about today on a past occasion, that we apply the texts as the Salaf applied them, and that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), when he ordered them to straighten and they straightened in this manner or on this methodology, means that this is what the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was pleased with for them. So we are pleased for ourselves with what the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was pleased with ... your guidance in this matter as well.