Joining the ankles in ruku‘ and the standing of “al-Si‘aya”

Question

Question: is joining the ankles in ruku‘ and sajda a sunna or not? Is it correct to act on the narration of “Shami” alone? In “Fatawa Dar al-‘Ulum” too someone asked a question of this kind, and in the answer the respected Mufti said that acting on the narration of “Shami” is correct, but if someone does not accept [it], he is not to be blamed. However, because the respected Mufti gave preference to neither side — doing it or not doing it — this issue has become a subject of fierce dispute.

Answer

This issue has been much debated in your parts before as well, and the people of knowledge have expended much effort of the pen. In the view of this humble one, is it really so important that such debates and disputes be conducted over it? Two interpretations have been given of joining the ankles: muhadhat (being opposite one another) and ilsaq (joining closely).

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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