Bending toes and other woes

Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

bending all five toes of my right foot when sitting is causing me quite serious pain such that my foot and toes feel bruised at times and getting the small toes to bend is difficult. Also, quite worryingly, to make the toes bend, i seem to have to apply a fairly hefty amount of pressure and take time to make sure they are bent such that i am getting a mark on my forehead from pressing my head to the ground in sajdah (so bad that my colleague at work just asked me if i had banged my head)

1) what should I do? carry on and hope the pain eases? or are three toes sufficient to fulfill the confirmed sunnah?
2) I also worry that the left foot in particular doesn’t have all 5 toes bent. again, are 3 toes enough for the confirmed sunnah? 3) do i not need to worry so much that all 5 toes are bent – usually they are bent even if they feel like they aren’t

Answer:

Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

I pray this finds you in the best of health and spirits.

[1] The sunna is to makes one’s toes face the qibla. ( Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah ) They don’t all have to be bent; nor do they have to be bent “completely” such that there is any pain involved. If even moderate bending causes one pain, then one does one’s best–and can even leave this sunna while the pain lasts.

[2] The toes of the left foot don’t have to face the qibla in the sitting position. ( Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar )

[3] There is no need to press the head hard as you do.

In general, I would advise that you remember that Allah Most High has told us that, “He has not place any hardship for you in matters of religion.” [Qur’an] And the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) cautioned that, “Verily, this religion is ease, and none makes it difficult for themselves except that it overwhelms them.” And he advised us to, “Remain steadfast; do your best; and be of glad tidings.”

And Allah alone gives success.

Faraz Rabbani