A Maulana claims on the basis of a Hadith that in Sajdah the heels should be joined together.

Answer

There is no Shar'i basis for the contention of the Maulana Sahib on the issue of keeping the heels together. Even if we have to assume that Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) did adjoin his heels and the reason given is what the Maulana says, then too, the contention that it is today Sunnat for us to adopt this method, is incorrect because the official and most authoritative view and fatwa of our Fuqaha and Akaabireen is on Tajaafi (keeping the feet apart). A practice may not be elevated to Sunnat on the basis of a logical ground regardless of how convincing the reason may be.

The fundamental error of the Maulana Sahib is that he has conducted himself like a Mujtahid. But he is not a Mujtahid, hence he has no entitlement to resort to Istimbaat (Deduction of Masaa-il) directly from Ahaadith and Qur'aan. The age of that type of Ijtihaad has terminated with the ending of Khairul Quroon.

The Maulana Sahib is a Muqallid and it is therefore incumbent on him to conduct himself like a Muqallid. He has to compulsorily follow the official Fatwa. It is highly inappropriate to attempt an abrogation of the authoritative and Jamhoor view with narrations of which the Aimmah Mujtahideen and the Fuqaha had been fully aware. The solitary Hadith which the Maulana had presented was not hidden from the illustrious Fuqaha. Despite their awareness, they did not make amal on it. And, they had their solid Shar'i arguments which no Maulana/ Allaamah of this age can even hope to challenge.