What is the interpretation of the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): “Close the gaps and do not leave an opening for Satan”?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you. A questioner says: I read in one of your fatwas that it is not necessary for the praying person’s foot to touch his neighbor’s foot in every prayer. So how do we interpret the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): or as he (peace and blessings be upon him) said?
The Shaykh : There is no contradiction between this and what was reported from us. We say that when the worshippers stand, they should place their ankle against the ankle and their shoulder against the shoulder, and this is what is meant by closing the ranks, because Satan will not find a place here to enter. It is well known that the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) did not spread their legs when they prostrated until one’s leg touched his brother’s leg. Rather, what is prescribed in prostration is to bring one foot close to the other without a gap. This is the first point.
Second, some people understand that placing the ankle against the ankle means that a person spreads his legs widely, and this is a mistake. The meaning of placing the ankle against the ankle is closing the ranks so that the upper and lower parts are aligned equally. If a person spreads his feet, the upper part becomes what? It becomes open. This is a mistaken understanding. Therefore, we must understand the texts as they were revealed. Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned in Fath al-Bari “That, namely placing the foot against the foot and the shoulder against the shoulder, is for the purpose of achieving equality”, meaning straightening the rows, because straightening the rows is obligatory according to the stronger position, based on the evidence that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) warned against deviation and said:Sunan Abi Dawud 663Sahih (Al-Albani) Yes.
Close the gaps and do not leave an opening for Satan
سدوا الخلل ولا تجعلوا فرجة للشيطانThe Shaykh : There is no contradiction between this and what was reported from us. We say that when the worshippers stand, they should place their ankle against the ankle and their shoulder against the shoulder, and this is what is meant by closing the ranks, because Satan will not find a place here to enter. It is well known that the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) did not spread their legs when they prostrated until one’s leg touched his brother’s leg. Rather, what is prescribed in prostration is to bring one foot close to the other without a gap. This is the first point.
Second, some people understand that placing the ankle against the ankle means that a person spreads his legs widely, and this is a mistake. The meaning of placing the ankle against the ankle is closing the ranks so that the upper and lower parts are aligned equally. If a person spreads his feet, the upper part becomes what? It becomes open. This is a mistaken understanding. Therefore, we must understand the texts as they were revealed. Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned in Fath al-Bari “That, namely placing the foot against the foot and the shoulder against the shoulder, is for the purpose of achieving equality”, meaning straightening the rows, because straightening the rows is obligatory according to the stronger position, based on the evidence that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) warned against deviation and said: