salaat with shoes

Asslamo Allaikum Aapa,

I like brother Abu Muhammad is confused so can you elaborate the question:

1. Are you claiming that it is not permissable to pray with shoes in the Hanafi Madhab?
2. Are you asking that we shouldn't go inside the Masjid with shoes?
3. Is the Salafi claiming that its superior to pray with shoes on regardless?

Our dear and respected South African Ulamah have enumerated a number of conditions for praying on the shoes probably based on the writings of Shaykh (Mufti) Taqi Usmani (HA) & Allamah Zahid Al-Kawthari (RA) referenced by Shaykh (Mufti) Yusuf Ludhyanwi Shaheed (RA) here

Conflicting Deobandi Fatwaas:

1. Permissable only on open-toe sandals
2. Mustahab (preferred) to pray with shoes but Najasah cannot be removed by Rubbing
3. Mustahab (preferred) to pray without shoes
4. Permissable as long as they are clean (no conditions)

I always thought that its pretty simple issue like 4 (above) mentioned by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani here

W-Salam,

Before discussing with a Madkhali ask two simple questions:

1. Which Scholars do you follow?
2. If they say I follow Qur'aan & Sunnah then ask, "Are you then claiming" that the verse in the Qur'aan is redundant and useles, "Ask the people of Knowledge (Ulamah) about what you don't know [16:43]"

The issue of shoes is answered by Shaykh (Mufti) al-Shaykh ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Humayd of Saudia and published in Fataawa Samaahat  on page 81

هل صحيح أن الإمام محمد بن عبد الوهاب قد قال إن المشي بالنعال في المسجد أمر مشروع وإن زيارة القبور محرمة ؟ أفيدونا وجزاكم الله خيراً .

Is it true that Imaam Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhaab said that walking with shoes in the mosque is something which is allowed in Islam, and that visiting graves is haraam? Please advise us, may Allaah reward you with good.

أما المشي بالنعال في المساجد ويقول أنه مشروع ، فهذا ليس بصحيح ، فلم يقل محمد بن عبد الوهاب إن المشي بالنعال مشروع ، بل يقول كما جاءت به الأحاديث ، وهو أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال : ( إذا جاء أحدكم المسجد فلينظر في نعليه ، فإن رأى فيهما أذى أو قذراً فليمسحهما فطهورهما التراب ) ، هذا بالنسبة إلى النعال وبالنسبة إلى المسجد في ذلك الوقت ، أما إذا كانت المساجد مفروشة ومهيأة ، فينبغي أن ينظف المسجد عن النعال ، وألا يدخل بنعليه خشية تقذير المكان وإزالة شيء من الأوساخ المتعلقة بالنعلين ، وقد أشار إلى هذا بعض أهل العلم وهو بعض ما يقوله الشيخ محمد بن عبد الوهاب ، فإنه لا يقول بمشروعية دخول المسجد بالنعال

...With regard to walking with shoes in the mosque and his saying that this is allowed in Islam, this is not correct. Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhaab did not say that walking with shoes in the mosque is something which is allowed in Islam. He said the same as was narrated in the ahaadeeth, which is that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “When any one of you comes to the mosque, let him look at his shoes, and if he sees anything dirty on them, let him wipe them, because they may be purified by rubbing them with dust.” This refers to shoes and to the mosque at that time [which was simple and unfurnished]. However, if the mosque is furnished [with carpets and the like], we should keep it clean from shoes and not enter wearing shoes, lest we make the place dirty by bringing in something unclean on our shoes. This was indicated by some of the scholars and is part of what Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhaab said. He did not say that it is allowed in Islam to enter the mosque with shoes...

أما بالنسبة إلى أنه يحرم زيارة القبور ، فهذا أبداً لا يقوله ، بل الإمام محمد بن عبد الوهاب يعمل بالأحاديث ، والحديث يقول : ( كنت نهيتكم عن زيارة القبور فزوروها ، فإنها تذكر الآخرة ) رواه مسلم رقم ( 977 ) ، وكذلك هو يقول - رحمه الله - ينبغي للزائر إذا زار المقبرة أن يتأدب بالآداب الشرعية ، وأن يدعو بما علّم النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أصحابه ، وأنك إذا دخلت المقبرة تقول : ( السلام عليكم دار قوم مؤمنين ، وإنا إن شاء الله بكم لاحقون ، يرحم الله المستقدمين منكم والمستأخرين ، نسأل الله لنا ولكم العافية ، اللهم لا تحرمنا أجرهم ، ولا تفتنا بعدهم ، واغفر لنا ولهم ) صحيح مسلم رقم ( 974و975 ) .

With regard to it being haraam to visit graves, he did not say this at all. Imaam Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhaab followed the ahaadeeth, and the hadeeth says: “”I used to forbid you to visit graves, but now [you should] visit them, for they are a reminder of the Hereafter.” (Narrated by Muslim, no. 977). And he (may Allaah have mercy on him) said to those who visit graves that when they visit them, they must abide by the etiquette of Islam and make du’aa’ as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) taught his companions: when you enter the graveyard, say: “Peace be upon you, dwellers of these abodes, believers and Muslims. We will, whenever Allaah wills, join you. May Allaah have mercy on those of you who were first (to die) and those who were last. I beg of Allaah salvation for us and for you. O Allaah, deprive us not of reward (similar to theirs) and lead us not astray after they are gone, and forgive us and them.” (Saheeh Muslim, no. 974, 975)

This is precisely the position of the Hanafi Madhab i.e. that the matter of praying with shoes is permissable but not on Carpets etc...

Islamweb.net also issues a Fatwa

بعد الخروج من دورات المياه والانتهاء من الوضوء، ماحكم الدخول بتلك الأحذية التي استعملناها للوضوء إلى داخل المسجد فى جهة ليس عليها فرش، وأحيانا قد يتم وضع الفرش عليها عند الازدحام علما بأن الأحذية قد يكون عليها بعض النجاسة؟ وجزاكم الله خيرا....

لحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله وعلى آله وصحبه أما بعد:

فإننا مأمورون بتعظيم المساجد وتكريمها وتطهيرها فهي بيوت الله، وقد قال تعالى:ذَلِكَ وَمَنْ يُعَظِّمْ حُرُمَاتِ اللَّهِ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَهُ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِ [الحج:30]. وقال تعالى:فِي بُيُوتٍ أَذِنَ اللَّهُ أَنْ تُرْفَعَ وَيُذْكَرَ فِيهَا اسْمُهُ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ فِيهَا بِالْغُدُوِّ وَالْآصَالِ [النور:36].
وقال صلى الله عليه وسلم: إن هذه المساجد لا يصلح فيها شيء من هذا البول والقذر. رواه البخاري ومسلم ، وأخبر عليه الصلاة والسلام أنه عرض عليه أجور أمته ومنها القذاة يخرجها الرجل من المسجد، كما رواه أبو داود والترمذي.
وعليه، فإنه لا يجوز المشي بالأحذية المتنجسة على هذا المكان ما دام معداً للصلاة فيه، ولو كان ذلك وقت الزحام فقط.
والله أعلم

Summary Response:

We are obligated to honour the Mosques and to sacnctify them and to make them clean (Pure) as they are houses of Allah (SWT) as Allah (SWT) states:

[22:30] ... whoever observes reverence of the things sanctified by Allah, it is good for him with his Lord...

[24:36] (The guided people worship Allah) in the houses that Allah has permitted to be raised, and where His name is recounted and His purity is pronounced, in the morning and in the evening,

...These mosques are not the places meant for urine and filth... [Bukhari]

This it will NOT be permissable to walk and bring shoes with Najasaah (from Masjid Toilet etc) into places for Salah even if the time is short (for the person to pray).