Is Bending the Toes of Both Feet when Prostrating an Integral of the Prayer in the Shafi’i School?
Shafi'i Fiqh
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Question: Assalamualaikum Sheikh,
Is it compulsory to bend the toes of both footh when postrating. I.e. doing the sajda?
Do I need to repeat my prayer if I intentionally or unintentionally do it.
A shafi’i scholar informed me that a prayer is not complete if the sajda does not fulfill the 7 points touching the floor with the toes, fingers and head facing the qibla.
Answer: In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate
Yes, it is an integral in the Shafi`i school to bend the toes of both feet when prostrating. The slightest amount is sufficient, even a single toe of each foot. If this is not done, then the sajda is not valid, and, as a result, the prayer is not valid.
If you prayed many past prayers like this, you can take the Hanafi dispensation to avoid making up missed prayers. In the Hanafi school, bending the toes is an emphasized sunna and not an integral.
If you prayed a small number of prayers, then it would be best to make them up.
From now on, though, be sure to bend the toes when you pray.
wassalam
Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani