Question:
As salamu ‘alaykum, What is the position of our school with regard to how our feet should be while in sujood (i.e. kept together or separated) and what is the evidence for our view? Jazak’Allaahu khairan.
Country: United States
Answer:
Wa alaykum salam wa rahmatuLlahi wa barakatuHu,
In Sharh al-Muhadhdhab v. 3, p. 431, Imam Nawawi related from Imam Shafi’i that it is recommended for one making sujud to part between the knees and feet; and from Qadi Abu al-Tayyib al-Tabari’s Ta’liq that the As-hab al-Wujuh maintained that the feet should be about a hand span apart. Likewise, something similar is related in Rawdat al-Talibin v. 1, p. 259.
In al-Sunan al-Kubra v. 2, p. 113, Imam Bayhaqi related on the authority of Bara’ that the Prophet Muhammad (sallaAllahu alayhie wa sallam) would,
وإذا سجد وجه أصابعه القبلة فتفاج
“When he made sujud he would face his toes towards the qiblah, fa-tafaajja.”
In Talkhis al-Habir v. 1, p. 618, Hafiz Ibn Hajar mentioned يعني وسع بين رجليه, “Meaning: he would space out his feet.”
And Allah knows best.
Shafiifiqh.com Fatwa Dept.