What is the ruling on praying in sandals?
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The questioner : What is the ruling on praying in sandals, O honorable Shaykh?
The Shaykh : Praying in sandals is a recommended practice (sunnah), for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray in his sandals, and he commanded praying in sandals in opposition to the Jews, who do not pray in their sandals.
However, this recommended practice (sunnah) is set aside if it leads to harm, such that people do not fulfill what they are commanded to do, which is to look at their sandals when entering the mosque. If they find harm in them, they should remove it and pray in them. It is not befitting for a person to open the door to harm for people. In that case, leaving the recommended practice (sunnah) is to avoid the feared harm, and there is no blame in leaving the recommended practice (sunnah) for such a reason.
However, this recommended practice (sunnah) should be kept alive by reminding people of it from time to time, so that the truth becomes clear and is not forgotten. Some of the common people used to strongly disapprove of a person praying in his sandals, yet they did not disapprove of a person praying in his leather socks. Why?
Because it was their custom for a man to pray in leather socks, and it was not their custom for a man to pray in sandals, even though the recommended practice (sunnah) is the same for both. So, if a person is wearing leather socks, it is better for him to pray in them, and if he is wearing sandals, it is better for him to pray in them. But if the danger I mentioned is feared, there is no blame in leaving this recommended practice (sunnah).
It is well known that if we opened this door for the common people, they would be negligent regarding the mosques and enter them in their sandals, all of which are a source of harm. They are full of water, and they would smear the mosque with them and ruin the carpets. Therefore, people left praying in sandals out of fear of this danger, not out of a desire to abandon the recommended practice (sunnah), for no believer can desire to abandon a recommended practice (sunnah) of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) except out of fear of a greater harm.
Leaving the recommended practice (sunnah) out of fear of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) or harm is something that the Sunnah has established. Here is the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) narrating to 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), saying to her: But he left that out of fear of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) and fear of the greater harm that would result from rebuilding it on the foundations of Ibrahim.
Similarly, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) left continuing his fast during Ramadan while traveling because fasting was difficult for the people. It was mentioned to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) while he was traveling in Ramadan that the people found fasting difficult and that they were waiting to see what he would do. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was fasting, so he called for water after the 'Asr prayer while he was on his mount and drank it, while the people were watching him. So the people broke their fast. Here, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) left continuing the fast, even though, Allah knows best, that was his desire, for the sake of the people's need to break their fast.
In any case, the answer is: Praying in sandals is a recommended practice (sunnah) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) practiced and commanded. But if it is feared that performing this recommended practice (sunnah) will result in harm to the mosque or annoyance to the worshippers, there is no blame in leaving the prayer in sandals. However, it must be known to the people, such that the scholars make it clear to the people that praying in sandals is a recommended practice (sunnah).
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : Praying in sandals is a recommended practice (sunnah), for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray in his sandals, and he commanded praying in sandals in opposition to the Jews, who do not pray in their sandals.
However, this recommended practice (sunnah) is set aside if it leads to harm, such that people do not fulfill what they are commanded to do, which is to look at their sandals when entering the mosque. If they find harm in them, they should remove it and pray in them. It is not befitting for a person to open the door to harm for people. In that case, leaving the recommended practice (sunnah) is to avoid the feared harm, and there is no blame in leaving the recommended practice (sunnah) for such a reason.
However, this recommended practice (sunnah) should be kept alive by reminding people of it from time to time, so that the truth becomes clear and is not forgotten. Some of the common people used to strongly disapprove of a person praying in his sandals, yet they did not disapprove of a person praying in his leather socks. Why?
Because it was their custom for a man to pray in leather socks, and it was not their custom for a man to pray in sandals, even though the recommended practice (sunnah) is the same for both. So, if a person is wearing leather socks, it is better for him to pray in them, and if he is wearing sandals, it is better for him to pray in them. But if the danger I mentioned is feared, there is no blame in leaving this recommended practice (sunnah).
It is well known that if we opened this door for the common people, they would be negligent regarding the mosques and enter them in their sandals, all of which are a source of harm. They are full of water, and they would smear the mosque with them and ruin the carpets. Therefore, people left praying in sandals out of fear of this danger, not out of a desire to abandon the recommended practice (sunnah), for no believer can desire to abandon a recommended practice (sunnah) of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) except out of fear of a greater harm.
Leaving the recommended practice (sunnah) out of fear of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) or harm is something that the Sunnah has established. Here is the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) narrating to 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), saying to her:
If it were not that your people are recent in their disbelief, the Ka'bah would have been built on the foundations of Ibrahim, and two doors would have been made for it: a door through which people enter, and a door through which they exit.
لولا أن قومك حديثوا عهد بكفر لبنيت الكعبة على قواعد إبراهيم، وجعلت لها بابين، باباً يدخل منه الناس، وباباً يخرجون منهSimilarly, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) left continuing his fast during Ramadan while traveling because fasting was difficult for the people. It was mentioned to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) while he was traveling in Ramadan that the people found fasting difficult and that they were waiting to see what he would do. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was fasting, so he called for water after the 'Asr prayer while he was on his mount and drank it, while the people were watching him. So the people broke their fast. Here, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) left continuing the fast, even though, Allah knows best, that was his desire, for the sake of the people's need to break their fast.
In any case, the answer is: Praying in sandals is a recommended practice (sunnah) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) practiced and commanded. But if it is feared that performing this recommended practice (sunnah) will result in harm to the mosque or annoyance to the worshippers, there is no blame in leaving the prayer in sandals. However, it must be known to the people, such that the scholars make it clear to the people that praying in sandals is a recommended practice (sunnah).
The questioner : May Allah bless you.