The worshipper has the option to pray while wearing shoes or to take them off and place them between his feet, so that they do not cause harm to other worshippers.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When any one of you prays, he should wear his shoes or take them off and place them between his legs, and he should not cause harm to others with them."

Sayyiduna Abu Salamah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that I asked Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him), "Did the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) ever pray while wearing shoes?" He replied, "Yes."

It is narrated from Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to pray on a small mat. And he (peace be upon him) said: "O Aisha, take this mat away from us, for I feared that it might put people into trial (fitnah)."

Ibn Shihab al-Zuhri, may Allah have mercy on him, says that I have continuously heard that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, performed prayer on a small mat, and it is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, used to pray on a small mat and would prostrate on it.

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to pray on a small mat, and he (peace be upon him) would keep it with him during travel and at home. Similarly, Janab Mahzami has narrated this hadith to us in a marfu’ form; although he has remembered the chain of this hadith and narrated it as marfu’, this hadith is ghareeb. Likewise, the narration of Janab Zuhri from Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) is also ghareeb.