Is it correct to keep the feet wide apart during prayer?

Sometimes we see people standing in prayer with their feet spread very wide apart. When praying in congregation, some even touch their feet to those of the person next to them, considering it a sunnah. However, this can distract others in prayer. About this, the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“Do not harm yourself or others.” (Hakim).

The four madhhab imams did not instruct people to stand with their feet wide apart in prayer. This practice has arisen from a misunderstanding of certain hadiths. To understand them correctly, we should refer to the words of scholars who lived closer to the golden age of Islam, as they understood the hadiths better and made rulings accordingly.

In the authoritative Hanafi book “I’la al-Sunan”, it is narrated: “From Nu’man ibn Bashir (may Allah be pleased with him): The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) looked at the people and said, ‘Straighten your rows!’ three times. He said, ‘By Allah, you will straighten your rows or Allah will cause discord between your hearts.’ (Nu’man said): ‘I saw a man putting his shoulder to his companion’s shoulder, his knee to his companion’s knee, and his ankle to his companion’s ankle.’ (Abu Dawood).

Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: “The Prophet (ﷺ) said: ‘Straighten your rows, for I can see you from behind my back.’ So we would place our shoulders to our companions’ shoulders and our feet to their feet.” (Bukhari). Nowadays, some people take this hadith literally and think it is obligatory to keep their feet touching those next to them throughout the prayer, forcing themselves to do so until the end. In reality, keeping shoulders, knees, and feet touching is very difficult. However,

“Allah does not burden any soul beyond its capacity.” (Surah al-Baqarah, 2:286).

No one can keep all their limbs touching others at all times, as people’s heights and builds differ. The meaning of the hadith is that these body parts should be aligned to straighten the rows. This means the shoulders, necks, and feet of those praying should be in a straight line. If touching feet was a prescribed sunnah in prayer, the Companions would never have neglected it, but in fact, they did not always do so. Scholars also explain that this hadith refers to aligning the rows precisely at the time of iqamah, not during the prayer itself.

There are different opinions about how close the feet should be when standing in prayer. In the Shafi’i madhhab, it is said to be about a handspan apart. Hanbali and Maliki scholars recommend neither keeping the feet too wide nor touching them together, but rather standing in a moderate, natural way.

In our Hanafi madhhab, it is sunnah to keep the feet about four fingers apart when standing, as this posture is closer to khushu’ (humility and composure) (Hashiyat Ibn Abidin, 1/479). However, this measure is for those who have no reason to stand wider. For larger or heavier people who need to stand wider for balance, it is permitted to stand as is comfortable, so that composure is maintained even when standing for a long time.

Hasan AMANKUL,

Head of the Religious Rehabilitation Department, SAMK

“Munara” newspaper, No. 7, 2023