What is the evidence for interlacing the fingers of the feet with the ring finger of the hand, and do we interlace the fingers of the right foot with the ring finger of the right hand, and likewise the left with the left?

The questioner : What is the evidence for interlacing the fingers of the feet with the ring finger of the hand, and do we interlace the fingers of the right foot with the ring finger of the right hand, and likewise the left with the left?

The Shaykh : As for the evidence for interlacing the fingers of the feet with the little finger, it is the hadith narrated by Abu Dawud in his *Sunan* with a valid chain. Ibn Abi Hatim narrated in the introduction to his book *al-Jarh wa al-Ta'dil* that Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) did not consider this to be the practice until he was shown this hadith narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). I am not remembering its companions right now, but it is explicit that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to interlace between the fingers of his feet with the little finger. As for whether it is with the right or the left, I do not know of a hadith on that, or at least I am not recalling a hadith on that. The default in this matter is to do what is easy for him, whether with the right or the left.

The questioner : The hadith of al-Aswad.

The Shaykh : Huh?

The questioner : The hadith of al-Aswad.

The Shaykh : What is its text?

The questioner : That he interlaces with his finger.

The Shaykh : I am not recalling it right now. It might be him or someone else. It is in *Sunan Abu Dawud*.