The Ruling on Praying in Shoes in Mosques
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Question:
What is the ruling on praying while wearing one's shoes, especially since mosques in our current time are carpeted with the finest carpets, and some people say that by doing so they revive the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)? We ask for clarification of the ruling of the Shari'ah in this matter?
Answer:
The answer to this question involves detail. If the shoes are sound and clean, containing nothing that harms the worshippers or the carpets, then there is no blame on him, and the prayer is valid. This is because it is established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he prayed in his sandals. When he took off his sandals one day due to something harmful in them, and the people took off their sandals, he said to them when he finished his prayer: They said: We saw you, O Messenger of Allah, take off your sandals, so we took off our sandals. He said (peace and blessings be upon him): Mishkat al-Masabih 766 —and in another wording: filth— so I took them off, Mishkat al-Masabih 766. This is how it came from him (peace and blessings be upon him).
As for if there is filth in them, or ritual impurity, or something that harms the carpets such as mud or the like, then he does not pray in them and does not enter the mosque with them. Rather, he places them in a place at the mosque door so that he does not harm the mosque or those in it, and so that he does not make their place of prayer dirty. This is especially so after the existence of carpets that are affected by everything. Therefore, it is better for the believer in this case to keep his sandals in any place and walk in the mosque without sandals so that he does not harm anyone, neither with dust nor with anything else.
As for the Sunnah in this, it is revived by speech and explanation that this was the action of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and that there is no blame in it. However, most people do not care and do not take precaution regarding their sandals. Rather, they enter the mosque without caring. If these people are permitted to enter the mosque with their sandals, filth and harm will accumulate in the carpets, and some people will be prevented from praying in the mosque because of this. Thus, he harms the worshippers and annoys them with what they find disgusting, while he only came with the intention of good and performing the Sunnah. The Sunnah in this case is not to harm the worshippers and not to make their mosque dirty. This is what the believer should do, and there is no doubt that the carpets are affected by everything. This is the best, and it is the requirement of the legal principles.
As for if the mosques are without carpets, then if he prays in his sandals, it is better if they are clean and free from harm, in accordance with the Sunnah.
What is the ruling on praying while wearing one's shoes, especially since mosques in our current time are carpeted with the finest carpets, and some people say that by doing so they revive the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)? We ask for clarification of the ruling of the Shari'ah in this matter?
Answer:
The answer to this question involves detail. If the shoes are sound and clean, containing nothing that harms the worshippers or the carpets, then there is no blame on him, and the prayer is valid. This is because it is established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he prayed in his sandals. When he took off his sandals one day due to something harmful in them, and the people took off their sandals, he said to them when he finished his prayer:
Why have you taken off your sandals?
ما لكم خلعتم نعالكم؟Gabriel came to me and informed me that there was filth on them
إن جبريل أتاني فأخبرني أن بهما أذىWhen any of you comes to the mosque he should examine, and if he sees filth on his sandals he should wipe it off and pray in them.
إذا أتى أحدكم إلى المسجد فلينظر فإن رأى في نعليه أذى فليمسحه ثم ليصل فيهماAs for if there is filth in them, or ritual impurity, or something that harms the carpets such as mud or the like, then he does not pray in them and does not enter the mosque with them. Rather, he places them in a place at the mosque door so that he does not harm the mosque or those in it, and so that he does not make their place of prayer dirty. This is especially so after the existence of carpets that are affected by everything. Therefore, it is better for the believer in this case to keep his sandals in any place and walk in the mosque without sandals so that he does not harm anyone, neither with dust nor with anything else.
As for the Sunnah in this, it is revived by speech and explanation that this was the action of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and that there is no blame in it. However, most people do not care and do not take precaution regarding their sandals. Rather, they enter the mosque without caring. If these people are permitted to enter the mosque with their sandals, filth and harm will accumulate in the carpets, and some people will be prevented from praying in the mosque because of this. Thus, he harms the worshippers and annoys them with what they find disgusting, while he only came with the intention of good and performing the Sunnah. The Sunnah in this case is not to harm the worshippers and not to make their mosque dirty. This is what the believer should do, and there is no doubt that the carpets are affected by everything. This is the best, and it is the requirement of the legal principles.
As for if the mosques are without carpets, then if he prays in his sandals, it is better if they are clean and free from harm, in accordance with the Sunnah.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.