In answer to the video "Islamicize Me Day 6: The Prophet's Drinking Game"
It is interesting to note the manner in which God instilled an etiquette of humility when about to communicate with the divine, that would later forever be perpetuated. God, as He was about to impart divine wisdom, prophecy, miracles to Musa told him to be aware of the sacredness of his surrounding and humble himself by taking off his sandals
20:12"Surely I am your Lord, therefore put off your shoes; surely you are in the sacred valley, Tuwa".As stated in the HB
Ex3:5"Do not draw near here. Take your shoes of your feet, because the soil upon which you stand is holy soil".God himself required it, not because of mourning and neither humility, as is sometimes understood in Judaism but
"because the soil upon which you stand is holy soil"God does certainly mind the issue of impurities desecrating a place Holy due to being a location of communication with the divine. The prophet Muhammad also invoked the presence of impurities as a reason to take off the shoes in congregation. These things matter to God and, just as one wouldn't present himself soiled with feces in front of any wordly respectable figure, one similarily does his best to avoid doing so when about to address the Creator.
Muslims take their shoes off because they emulate their prophet who preserved the way of his predecessors. Of course the law isnt rigid, and has a spirit, like every divine ordinance, hence the prophet Muhammad's flexibility in the matter, depending on the circumstances. He sometimes prayed with shoes off, or on but in the latter case always made sure his shoes had no impurities on them.
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