6/16. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 730e — Nafl Prayer Posture
It is permissible to offer voluntary prayers standing or sitting, and to stand and sit in the same rak`ah
Nafl Prayer Posture Hadith: Standing and Sitting in Voluntary Prayer
Sahih Muslim : 730e
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 730e
وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ حَسَّانَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِيرِينَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ شَقِيقٍ الْعُقَيْلِيِّ، قَالَ سَأَلْنَا عَائِشَةَ عَنْ صَلاَةِ، رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَتْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُكْثِرُ الصَّلاَةَ قَائِمًا وَقَاعِدًا فَإِذَا افْتَتَحَ الصَّلاَةَ قَائِمًا رَكَعَ قَائِمًا وَإِذَا افْتَتَحَ الصَّلاَةَ قَاعِدًا رَكَعَ قَاعِدًا .
Abdullah b. Shaqiq al-'Uqaili Narrated from:
I asked 'A'isha about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). She said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would observe prayer (Nafl) in a standing position as well as in a sitting position, and when he commenced the prayer in a standing position, he bowed in this very position, and when he commenced the prayer in a sitting position, he bowed in this very position.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 730eIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 133USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1588
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 730e
This Nafl prayer posture hadith explains that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم performed voluntary prayer both standing and sitting. ‘A’isha said that when he began the prayer standing, he bowed in that same standing position. When he began the prayer sitting, he bowed in that same sitting position. The report is focused on the starting posture and the bowing posture in voluntary prayer. It should not be expanded beyond the provided wording. For people searching for praying sitting in Nafl prayer or Prophet’s voluntary prayer posture, this narration gives a clear description. It also shows that the Companions asked about details of the Prophet’s prayer so they could understand his practice.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم performed Nafl prayer standing and sitting.
- When he started standing, he bowed from standing.
- When he started sitting, he bowed from sitting.
