Etiquette: Permissible sitting positions
بسم الله والحمد لله
والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد
Chapter: On the permission to lie on one's back and put
one leg across the other when one's private parts are not exposed, and the
permission to sit cross-legged and sitting with one's legs drawn up
820 - Narrated
`Abbaad bin Tameem that his uncle said: “I saw Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم lying flat (on his
back) in the mosque with one leg on the other.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (475,
6287) and Saheeh Muslim (5239)]
821 - Jaabir bin Samurah رضي الله عنه said: “When the
Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم prayed the Fajr (dawn) prayer, he used to sit crossed-legged
where he had prayed till the sun had come well up.” [Sunan Abu Dawood (4850)
and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]
822 - Narrated Ibn `Umar رضي الله عنهما: “I saw Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم in the courtyard of
the Ka`bah in the Ihtibaa’ posture like this (i.e. with the thighs against the
stomach and the arms round the legs).” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (6272)]
823 - Narrated
Qaylah bint Makhramah رضي الله عنها: “I saw the
Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم
sitting in Qurfusaa’ posture (with his arms round his legs), and when I saw him in such a state of humble guise
I trembled with fear due to the awe (he showed in that posture).” [Sunan Abu
Dawood (4847) and graded as “Hasan li ghairihee”
by Shaikh al-Albaanee in al-Saheehah (5/157)]
824 - Ash-Shareed bin Suwaid رضي الله عنه reported: “The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم passed by me when I
was sitting with my left hand behind my back and leaning on my palm.” On seeing
me in this posture he صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Do you sit like those
upon whom the Wrath of Allaah has descended?” [Sunan Abu Dawood (4848)
and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee
in Jilbaab al-Mar’ah (1/196-197) and the Hadeeth of Ibn `Umar is additional
support for this Hadeeth:
Naafi` said: Ibn `Umar رضي الله عنهما saw a man resting
on his left hand while he was sitting during prayer. Ibn `Umar said to him: “Do
not sit in this manner, because this is the manner in which those who are
punished sit.” [Sunan Abu Dawood (994) and graded as “Hasan” by Shaikh al-Albaanee and in Musnad Ahmad (5972)
it is reported in Marfoo` form]]
Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله said:
“This is the chapter which al-Nawawee رحمه الله mentioned in
continuation to (the previous chapter of) “sleeping on the back”, and it has
already been discussed that the best position for someone to sleep in is by
lying on the right hand side. And it has already been discussed that sleeping
on the belly is not allowed except if there is a genuine reason; and as for
sleeping on the back then there is no problem with it, provided that the person
is sure that his private parts won’t be exposed. If he fears that his private
parts will be exposed because were he to raise anyone of his legs, his lower
garment would fallback and he is not wearing the undergarments, then he should
not lay on his back. But if he is sure that his private parts won’t be exposed
then there is no problem in that. As for sleeping by lying on the left side,
then there is no problem with that either. There is no problem if one sleeps on
his back or on his left side, but sleeping on the right side is better (and
preferred), but as for sleeping on the belly, then one should not do so except
for a (genuine) reason.
As for all the sitting postures, then there is no problem
with them. A person may sit with the legs crossed and there is no problem with
that, he may in Qurfusaa’ position, i.e. sitting with his thighs (against his
stomach) and his hands going around the two shins, there is also no problem in
that because the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم
used to sit in this position.
No sitting position is disliked except that which the
Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم
warned against, because that is the sitting position of those on whom the wrath
of Allaah has descended (i.e. the Jews), i.e. one sits with his left hand
behind his back, with his palm placed on the earth and he reclines on it. This is
the sitting position which the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم pointed out that
it is the position of those on whom the wrath of Allaah descended. But as for placing
both the hands simultaneously behind the back and reclining on them, then there
is no problem with that; or if he places the right hand behind the back, there
is no problem with that. The problem is with placing the left hand behind the
back with the palm placed on the earth and reclining on it, this is the
position which the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم
pointed out as being the sitting position of those on whom the wrath of Allaah
has descended.”
[Sharh Riyaadh al-Saaliheen of Shaikh Ibn
al-`Uthaymeen (4/345-347)]
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