What is the ruling on one who comes from his home wearing his shoes and prays in the mosque without taking them off?
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The questioner : What is the ruling on one who comes from his home wearing his shoes and prays in the mosque without taking them off?
The Shaykh : Praying in sandals is a recommended practice (sunnah), as it is established from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that he used to pray in his sandals. However, what is prescribed for a person is not to pray in them until he inspects them. If he sees any impurity in them, he should wipe it with dust until they become pure, and then pray in them.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This recommended practice (sunnah) should be left if a person fears harm from it, such as fearing that people will degrade the mosques by doing so and entering them in a manner not prescribed, meaning entering without inspecting their sandals and removing impurity from them. In that case, it may be stronger to leave it off due to this fear. As for what some people have become accustomed to, which is entering the mosque in their sandals and walking around in them without having inspected them upon entering, this is an error.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : It is contrary to the Sunnah, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered the one entering the mosque to inspect his sandals before entering. Furthermore, it is one of the wonders that those who enter in their sandals, when they reach the place where they intend to pray, are found taking them off. Thus, they contradict the Sunnah in two ways: first, that they enter the mosque in their sandals without inspecting them.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Second, that they do not pray in them, but rather take them off when they stand for prayer. What is obligatory for the Muslim is to conduct his actions and omissions in accordance with what came from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).
He does not enter the mosque in his sandals except after inspecting them.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : If he inspects them and finds impurity in them, he should scrape it with dust until it is removed, and then enter the mosque with them. If he does not wish to do so, let him lift them up from the moment he enters the mosque. Yes.
The Shaykh : Praying in sandals is a recommended practice (sunnah), as it is established from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that he used to pray in his sandals. However, what is prescribed for a person is not to pray in them until he inspects them. If he sees any impurity in them, he should wipe it with dust until they become pure, and then pray in them.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This recommended practice (sunnah) should be left if a person fears harm from it, such as fearing that people will degrade the mosques by doing so and entering them in a manner not prescribed, meaning entering without inspecting their sandals and removing impurity from them. In that case, it may be stronger to leave it off due to this fear. As for what some people have become accustomed to, which is entering the mosque in their sandals and walking around in them without having inspected them upon entering, this is an error.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : It is contrary to the Sunnah, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered the one entering the mosque to inspect his sandals before entering. Furthermore, it is one of the wonders that those who enter in their sandals, when they reach the place where they intend to pray, are found taking them off. Thus, they contradict the Sunnah in two ways: first, that they enter the mosque in their sandals without inspecting them.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Second, that they do not pray in them, but rather take them off when they stand for prayer. What is obligatory for the Muslim is to conduct his actions and omissions in accordance with what came from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).
He does not enter the mosque in his sandals except after inspecting them.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : If he inspects them and finds impurity in them, he should scrape it with dust until it is removed, and then enter the mosque with them. If he does not wish to do so, let him lift them up from the moment he enters the mosque. Yes.