Praying While Sitting
Total Hadiths 22
Prophetic Hadiths on the Rules of Praying While Sitting
Islam offers beautiful ease and flexibility for believers facing physical hardships during worship. According to authentic narrations, companion Imran bin Husain, who suffered from piles, asked Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) about the correct way to perform prayer when unwell. The Prophet (ﷺ) instructed him to pray standing if possible, but if he could not, to pray sitting, and if even that was not possible, to pray while lying down on his side. Furthermore, the Prophet (ﷺ) clarified that while standing is always best, a person who chooses to sit receives half the reward of one standing, and one who lies down receives half the reward of one sitting. According to Islamic scholars, this reward reduction applies only to voluntary prayers performed without a valid medical reason. In another account, Aisha (ra) observed that the Prophet (ﷺ) never performed his night prayers sitting down until his later years, when he would recite the Quran while seated and then stand up to recite thirty or forty verses right before bowing.
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ أُمِّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنَّهَا أَخْبَرَتْهُ أَنَّهَا لَمْ تَرَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصَلِّي صَلاَةَ اللَّيْلِ قَاعِدًا قَطُّ حَتَّى أَسَنَّ، فَكَانَ يَقْرَأُ قَاعِدًا حَتَّى إِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَرْكَعَ قَامَ، فَقَرَأَ نَحْوًا مِنْ ثَلاَثِينَ آيَةً أَوْ أَرْبَعِينَ آيَةً، ثُمَّ رَكَعَ.
A'isha Narrated from:
I never saw Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) offering the night prayer while sitting except in his old age and then he used to recite while sitting and whenever he wanted to bow he would get up and recite thirty or forty verses (while standing) and then bow.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 1118In-book reference : Book 18, Hadith 38USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 2, Book 20, Hadith 219
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، وَأَبِي النَّضْرِ، مَوْلَى عُمَرَ بْنِ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ أُمِّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يُصَلِّي جَالِسًا فَيَقْرَأُ وَهْوَ جَالِسٌ، فَإِذَا بَقِيَ مِنْ قِرَاءَتِهِ نَحْوٌ مِنْ ثَلاَثِينَ أَوْ أَرْبَعِينَ آيَةً قَامَ فَقَرَأَهَا وَهْوَ قَائِمٌ، ثُمَّ يَرْكَعُ ثُمَّ يَسْجُدُ، يَفْعَلُ فِي الرَّكْعَةِ الثَّانِيَةِ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ، فَإِذَا قَضَى صَلاَتَهُ نَظَرَ، فَإِنْ كُنْتُ يَقْظَى تَحَدَّثَ مَعِي، وَإِنْ كُنْتُ نَائِمَةً اضْطَجَعَ.
A'isha Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) (in his last days) used to pray sitting. He would recite while sitting, and when thirty or forty verses remained from the recitation he would get up and recite them while standing and then he would bow and prostrate. He used to do the same in the second rak`a. After finishing the Prayer he used to look at me and if I was awake he would talk to me and if I was asleep, he would lie down.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 1119In-book reference : Book 18, Hadith 39USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 2, Book 20, Hadith 220
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ، عَنْ بُدَيْلٍ، وَأَيُّوبَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ شَقِيقٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصَلِّي لَيْلاً طَوِيلاً فَإِذَا صَلَّى قَائِمًا رَكَعَ قَائِمًا وَإِذَا صَلَّى قَاعِدًا رَكَعَ قَاعِدًا .
A'isha Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would pray in the night for a long time, and when he prayed standing be bowed in a standing posture, and when he prayed sitting, he bowed in a sitting posture.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 730bIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 130USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1585
وَحَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الرَّبِيعِ الزَّهْرَانِيُّ، أَخْبَرَنَا حَمَّادٌ يَعْنِي ابْنَ زَيْدٍ، ح قَالَ وَحَدَّثَنَا حَسَنُ بْنُ الرَّبِيعِ، حَدَّثَنَا مَهْدِيُّ بْنُ مَيْمُونٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، جَمِيعًا عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، ح وَحَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ - قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ مَا رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقْرَأُ فِي شَىْءٍ مِنْ صَلاَةِ اللَّيْلِ جَالِسًا حَتَّى إِذَا كَبِرَ قَرَأَ جَالِسًا حَتَّى إِذَا بَقِيَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ السُّورَةِ ثَلاَثُونَ أَوْ أَرْبَعُونَ آيَةً قَامَ فَقَرَأَهُنَّ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ .
A'isha Narrated from:
I did not see the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) reciting (the Qur'an) in the night prayer in a sitting position, till he grew old and then he recited (it) in a sitting position, but when thirty or forty verses were left out of the Surah, he would then stand up, recite them and then bowed.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 731aIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 134USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1589
وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، وَأَبِي النَّضْرِ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يُصَلِّي جَالِسًا فَيَقْرَأُ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ فَإِذَا بَقِيَ مِنْ قِرَاءَتِهِ قَدْرُ مَا يَكُونُ ثَلاَثِينَ أَوْ أَرْبَعِينَ آيَةً قَامَ فَقَرَأَ وَهُوَ قَائِمٌ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ ثُمَّ سَجَدَ ثُمَّ يَفْعَلُ فِي الرَّكْعَةِ الثَّانِيَةِ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ .
A'isha Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to pray while sitting (when he grew old) and he recited in this position and when the recitation equal to thirty or forty verses was left, he would then stand up and recite (for this duration) in a standing position and then bowed himself and then prostrated himself and did the same in the second rak'ah.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 731bIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 135USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1590
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ ابْنُ عُلَيَّةَ، عَنِ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي هِشَامٍ، عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ عَمْرَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقْرَأُ وَهُوَ قَاعِدٌ فَإِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَرْكَعَ قَامَ قَدْرَ مَا يَقْرَأُ إِنْسَانٌ أَرْبَعِينَ آيَةً .
A'isha Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to recite in sitting position (while observing the Tahajjud prayer) and when he intended to bow, he would stand up and recite (for the duration in which) a man (ordinarily) recites forty verses.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 731cIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 136USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1591
وَحَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ، وَهَارُونُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا حَجَّاجُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، قَالَ قَالَ ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ أَخْبَرَنِي عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي سُلَيْمَانَ، أَنَّ أَبَا سَلَمَةَ بْنَ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ أَخْبَرَتْهُ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَمْ يَمُتْ حَتَّى كَانَ كَثِيرٌ مِنْ صَلاَتِهِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ .
A'isha Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) died (in this very state) that he observed most of his (Nafl) prayers in a sitting position.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 732cIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 140USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1595
وَحَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ، وَحَسَنٌ الْحُلْوَانِيُّ، كِلاَهُمَا عَنْ زَيْدٍ، قَالَ حَسَنٌ حَدَّثَنَا زَيْدُ بْنُ الْحُبَابِ، حَدَّثَنِي الضَّحَّاكُ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ، حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ لَمَّا بَدَّنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَثَقُلَ كَانَ أَكْثَرُ صَلاَتِهِ جَالِسًا .
A'isha Narrated from:
When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) grew bulky and heavy he would observe (most of his Nafl) prayers sitting.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 732dIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 141USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1596
وَحَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ هِلاَلِ بْنِ يَسَافٍ، عَنْ أَبِي يَحْيَى، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، قَالَ حُدِّثْتُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " صَلاَةُ الرَّجُلِ قَاعِدًا نِصْفُ الصَّلاَةِ " . قَالَ فَأَتَيْتُهُ فَوَجَدْتُهُ يُصَلِّي جَالِسًا فَوَضَعْتُ يَدِي عَلَى رَأْسِهِ فَقَالَ مَا لَكَ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرٍو قُلْتُ حُدِّثْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَنَّكَ قُلْتَ " صَلاَةُ الرَّجُلِ قَاعِدًا عَلَى نِصْفِ الصَّلاَةِ " . وَأَنْتَ تُصَلِّي قَاعِدًا قَالَ " أَجَلْ وَلَكِنِّي لَسْتُ كَأَحَدٍ مِنْكُمْ " .
'Abdullah bin 'Amr Narrated from:
It was narrated to me that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had said: The prayer observed by a person sitting is half of the prayer. I came to him (ﷺ) and found him praying in a sitting position. I placed my hand on his head. He said: O 'Abdullah b. 'Amr, what is the matter with you? I said: Messenger of Allah, it has been narrated to me that you said: The prayer of a man in a sitting position is half of the prayer, whereas you are observing prayer sitting. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Yes, it is so, but I am not like anyone amongst you.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 735aIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 145USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1600
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا رَوْحُ بْنُ عُبَادَةَ، أَخْبَرَنَا حُسَيْنٌ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ بُرَيْدَةَ، عَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ حُصَيْنٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّهُ سَأَلَ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم. أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الصَّمَدِ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبِي قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا الْحُسَيْنُ عَنِ ابْنِ بُرَيْدَةَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عِمْرَانُ بْنُ حُصَيْنٍ ـ وَكَانَ مَبْسُورًا ـ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْ صَلاَةِ الرَّجُلِ قَاعِدًا فَقَالَ " إِنْ صَلَّى قَائِمًا فَهْوَ أَفْضَلُ، وَمَنْ صَلَّى قَاعِدًا فَلَهُ نِصْفُ أَجْرِ الْقَائِمِ، وَمَنْ صَلَّى نَائِمًا فَلَهُ نِصْفُ أَجْرِ الْقَاعِدِ ".
'Imran bin Husain Narrated from:
I asked Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) about the praying of a man while sitting. He said, "If he prays while standing it is better and he who prays while sitting gets half the reward of that who prays standing; and whoever prays while Lying gets half the reward of that who prays while sitting."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 1115In-book reference : Book 18, Hadith 35USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 2, Book 20, Hadith 216
