Islamic practices and rituals are deeply rooted in tradition, guided by the Quran and the Hadith, which contain the sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). One of the essential acts of worship in Islam is Salah, or the ritual prayer, performed five times a day. Regarding Salah, there are many additional Sunnah that we follow to increase the reward in our prayer, and follow in the footsteps of our Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
Often we get questions about what is Sunnah during prayer, and what is not. One of these questions, is whether it is Sunnah to wear Shoes while praying.
Concept of Sunnah in Islam
Before discussing the specific issue of wearing shoes during prayer, it is crucial to understand the concept of Sunnah in Islam. Sunnah refers to the practices and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) that supplement the obligatory acts (Fardh) and hold great significance in Islam. Following the Sunnah is a reflection of love and reverence for the Prophet, as it demonstrates a sincere desire to emulate his exemplary character and devotion to Allah.
There are certain types of Sunnah that are considered obligatory, known as Sunnat Muakkadah. These are generally actions which the Prophet would perform constantly under normal circumstances. It is commonly agreed upon by scholars that not following the Sunnat Muakkadah is sinful. An example of such a Sunnat is the 2 prayers before Fajr namaz.
The non-obligatory type of Sunnah is known as Sunnat Ghair Muakkadah. These are generally actions which the Prophet would perform occasionally perform, and occasionally wouldn’t. An example of this is the 4 prayers of Sunnat performed before the 4 Fardh prayers of Isha.
Did the Prophet wear Shoes during Prayer?
In the historical context of early Islamic society, shoes were a common form of footwear, and people typically wore them during various daily activities, including prayer. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) himself often prayed while wearing his shoes, as evidenced by various narrations in the Hadith literature. There are also some narrations where he encouraged the use of shoes while praying.
Narrated Aws ibn Thabit al-Ansari:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Act differently from the Jews, for they do not pray in their sandals or their shoes.
~ Sunan Abi Dawud, Book 2, Hadith 652
From this, and many other narrations it is quite clear that it is permitted to wear shoes during prayer.
There are some situations in which the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) would remove his shoes before praying. This would be done if the shoes had some kind of impurity on them. The impurity here is not specifically mentioned, but likely refers to any substance or material which can render your Prayer invalid if it comes into contact with your body.
Narrated Abu Sa’id al-Khudri:
While the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was leading his Companions in prayer, he took off his sandals and laid them on his left side; so when the people saw this, they removed their sandals. When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) finished his prayer, he asked: What made you remove your sandals? The replied: We saw you remove your sandals, so we removed our sandals.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) then said: Gabriel came to me and informed me that there was filth in them. When any of you comes to the mosque, he should see; if he finds filth on his sandals, he should wipe it off and pray in them
~ Sunan Abi Dawud, Book 2, Hadith 650
Is it Sunnah to wear Shoes while praying?
Given all this information, is it Sunnah to wear Shoes while praying? Yes it is.
However, certain considerations must be made. Nowadays (in modern times) masjids have carpeted or properly maintained and cleaned floors. These floors are kept clean so Muslims can pray in comfort, without the worry of coming into contact with any impurity. This may also count as “damage to masjid property”, especially if the floor is carpeted (which makes it very hard to get the stains out).
Hence, according to the prevailing consensus among contemporary scholars, it is generally recommended not to wear shoes inside mosques, unless the specific mosque’s circumstances, such as an underdeveloped floor, warrant a different practice.
However, within your own house (or when praying in places where there are no furnishings or carpets, such as parks, beaches and out of doors, etc.) you may follow the Sunnah to wear shoes while praying. Just make sure that your shoes are clean, and there is no impurity on them.
It is also important to note, that this type of Sunnat is not “Muakkadah”. It is instead regarded as “Ghair Muakkadah” or “Mustahabb” (recommended or virtuous to perform).
Ending Note
In conclusion, understanding and following the Sunnah during prayer is an essential aspect of Islamic devotion. While wearing shoes during prayer is considered Sunnah and was practiced by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) on certain occasions, the modern context of well-maintained mosques and clean prayer spaces has led to a prevailing consensus against wearing shoes inside mosques.
However, in private settings, Muslims may choose to follow the Sunnah of wearing shoes during prayer, ensuring their footwear is clean and free from impurities.