Home » Hanafi Fiqh » ShariahBoard.org » What should the spacing be between our feet when standing for Salaat?

What should the spacing be between our feet when standing for Salaat?

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by ShariahBoard.org
What should the spacing be between our feet when standing for Salaat? Also should our feet physically need to touch the person next to us in Jamaat? How about shoulders?
The jurists have suggested that a person should keep a distance of four fingers or of one span between his feet while standing in the prayer. If there is some excusable reason then a person can make the distance more, otherwise not. This applies whether a person is praying by himself or in congregation. The concept of feet to feet and shoulder to shoulder has no basis in the prophetic traditions; it is because these people have misunderstood the true meaning of Hadith. The meaning of the Hadith is that people should not leave so much gap between themselves that a third person who sees the gap would want to fill it up. In other words, people should stay closer to each other, which does not mean they must touch each other.

Original Source Link (from Way Back Machine archive)

This answer was collected from Shariahboard.org. It was established under the supervision of the eminent faqih of our era, Hazrat Shah Mufti Mohammed Navalur Rahman damat barakatuhum.

Read answers with similar topics: