20/18. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 1647 — Prayer Posture
What is done when one begins the prayer standing and mentioning the differences with those who reported from 'Aisha concerning it
How the Prophet Prayed Standing and Sitting
Sunan an-Nasai : 1647
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 1647
أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدَةُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحِيمِ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا وَكِيعٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي يَزِيدُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنِ ابْنِ سِيرِينَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ شَقِيقٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصَلِّي قَائِمًا وَقَاعِدًا فَإِذَا افْتَتَحَ الصَّلاَةَ قَائِمًا رَكَعَ قَائِمًا وَإِذَا افْتَتَحَ الصَّلاَةَ قَاعِدًا رَكَعَ قَاعِدًا .
A'isha Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to pray standing and sitting. If he started to pray standing, he would bow standing and if he started to pray sitting, he would bow sitting.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 1647In-book reference : Book 20, Hadith 50English translation : Vol. 2, Book 20, Hadith 1648
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 1647
This Hadith about prayer posture is another clear report from Aishah. She said the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) used to pray standing and sitting. If he opened the prayer while standing, he bowed standing. If he opened the prayer while sitting, he bowed sitting. The Hadith gives a direct description, not a long explanation. Its value is in the detail: it records the Prophet’s actual practice in voluntary prayer. For readers searching for how to pray sitting in Islam, this report shows that seated prayer was known in the Prophet’s own worship. It also shows order and consistency in how he moved from recitation to bowing.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet performed some prayers standing and some sitting.
- The posture at the start affected how he bowed.
- Seated prayer is clearly mentioned in his practice.
- Aishah’s narration preserves practical details of prayer.
