Is aligning in the rows done by the feet or by the shoulders?
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The questioner : Is aligning in the rows by the shoulders or by the ankles?
The Shaykh : Generally, if the feet are aligned, the shoulders are aligned, unless some people have a curvature in their backs. But is the alignment by the tips of the toes, the heels, or the ankles? We have three things: the tips of the toes, the ankles, or the heels. The scholars say it is by the ankles, because this is what was reported from the Salaf, and also because the body is built upon the ankle, as it is at the bottom of the lower leg. Therefore, alignment is considered by the ankle. Some people consider it by the tips of the toes, and this is an error, because some men have long feet. If we align the tips of the toes, they will be behind. So the standard is the ankle.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : The standard is the ground. For example, if we assume, as you said, that someone is very heavy and has to move forward or backward, we say: align by the feet, and the upper part may vary, with one person being two or three inches taller than the other.
The questioner : They can be combined.
The Shaykh : The original principle is combining them, but if they differ significantly, as Allah wills, some people have this width and others that, so there must be a difference.
The Shaykh : Generally, if the feet are aligned, the shoulders are aligned, unless some people have a curvature in their backs. But is the alignment by the tips of the toes, the heels, or the ankles? We have three things: the tips of the toes, the ankles, or the heels. The scholars say it is by the ankles, because this is what was reported from the Salaf, and also because the body is built upon the ankle, as it is at the bottom of the lower leg. Therefore, alignment is considered by the ankle. Some people consider it by the tips of the toes, and this is an error, because some men have long feet. If we align the tips of the toes, they will be behind. So the standard is the ankle.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : The standard is the ground. For example, if we assume, as you said, that someone is very heavy and has to move forward or backward, we say: align by the feet, and the upper part may vary, with one person being two or three inches taller than the other.
The questioner : They can be combined.
The Shaykh : The original principle is combining them, but if they differ significantly, as Allah wills, some people have this width and others that, so there must be a difference.