Offering Nafl Salat in Sitting Position
By Mufti Muhammad Kadwa
Posted: 20 Zul-Qa'dah 1422, 3 February 2002
Checked and approved correct: Mufti Ebrahim Desai
| Q.) In Pakistan I witnessed a practice that seems to be growing
immensely in popularity. People in the masjid, young and old, weak and healthy, have made
it a habit to offer two rakaats nafil after fardh/sunnah entirely in the sitting posture.
For some reason my heart fails to accept that there could be virtue in this act. Is this
an established sunnah (esp. to do it after every dhuhr, maghrib and isha Salat)? My
limited understanding of Hanafi usool is that the Ahnaaf don't make a regular practice of
an act that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) may have done on certain occasions
due to special circumstances. For example, urinating while standing cannot be deemed
sunnah, just permissible in forced circumstances. If the Prophet (S) did occasionally pray
nafil in this manner, would it not have been due to illness or fatigue? Isn't qiyam a
requisite of salat that should not be abandoned without 'uzr? I just feel that this common
practice is going against the very principles of the solidness with which Hanafi fiqh
classifies the sunnah. Please clarify my misunderstandings. [Hashir M. Zuberi] |
A.) 1. Some Fuqahaa amongst the Hanafi Madhab are of the opinion that
Nafl Salat may be performed seated. However, even they concede that the Thawaab (reward)
is reduced by half. This is only a permitted act and should not be construed as a
Mustahabb (preferred action). People may read the Nafl Salat whilst seated but they should
not make a habit of doing so.
2. Qiyam is definitely a requisite of Salat as you say but due to the extensive
latitude allowed in Nafl Salat, certain restrictions and rules are eased. One of them is
Qiyaam. Hence, Qiyaam in Nafl is not obligatory. However, since it is becoming a common
practice in your area, people who do not have any excuse should be discouraged from
sitting and performing their Nafl Salat. And Allah Ta'ala Knows Best
Q & A