Question # 52: I wanted to know how to pray sitting on a chair, especially for feeble, aged persons.


bismi-llahi r-raḥmani r-raḥīm,

Assalamu ‘laikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

All praise and thanks are due to Allah (سبحانه و تعالى), and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم).

Dear questioner,

First of all, we implore Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) to help us serve His cause and render our work for His sake.

Shorter Answer: The ummah is unanimously agreed that whoever is unable to stand in an obligatory prayer may pray sitting down, and his reward will not be less than the reward for offering the prayer standing up. It is Sunnah to pray mutarabbi’an (on his buttocks, with each calf tucked up to the thigh) which is called tarabbu’, and in this posture the calf and thigh on the right and the left are all visible. However, there is nothing wrong, if a person prays muftarishan (in the posture called iftiraash) where the calf disappears beneath the thigh, or if he prays muhtabiyan, sitting with one’s legs drawn up and wrapped in one’s garment.

When praying seated, it is better and more complete to sit on the floor if one is able. If not, then he may sit in a chair, and he does everything a person would do sitting on the floor. He should motions with his head for the prostration while sitting, making his nodding [or bending over] lower for prostration than for bowing.

Long Answer:  Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in al-Majmoo’: The ummah is unanimously agreed that whoever is unable to stand in an obligatory prayer may pray sitting down, and he does not have to repeat the prayer. Our companions said: his reward will not be less than the reward for offering the prayer standing up, because he is excused. It was proven in Saheeh al-Bukhaari that the Messenger of Allaah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “If a person is sick or is travelling, the reward of what he used to do when he was healthy and not travelling with be written for him.”… He also said in Sharh Muslim: …With regard to obligatory prayers, if a person prays sitting down when he is able to stand, his prayer is not valid and he will not be rewarded, rather he is sinning.

  • Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) explained the manner of sitting while praying:

“He should sit mutarabbi’an on his buttocks, with each calf tucked up to the thigh. This is called tarabbu’, and in this posture the calf and thigh on the right and the left are all visible, whereas in the case of iftiraash the calf disappears beneath the thigh, but in tarabbu’ all four parts (thigh and calf on both sides) are visible.

[However, it is not obligatory to sit like this. But,] it is Sunnah. If a person prays muftarishan (in the posture called iftiraash) there is nothing wrong with it, and if he prays muhtabiyan (sitting with one’s legs drawn up and wrapped in one’s garment) there is nothing wrong with it, because of the general meaning of the words of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم), “If he cannot, then sitting.” He did not explain how he is to sit.

If a person says, is there any evidence to suggest that he should pray mutarabbi’an? The answer is yes. ‘Aa’ishah (رضي الله عنه) said: I saw the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) praying mutarabbi’an. And because that is usually more comfortable than al-iftiraash. It is well known that standing needs a longer recitation than saying, “Rabb ighfir li warhamni (Lord forgive me and have mercy on me).” Hence it is better to sit mutarabbi’an.

At the time of bowing, some of them say that it should be muftarishan but the correct view is that it should be mutarabbi’an, because when bowing a person’s leg and thigh are upright, and he only bends his back. So we say that if a person is mutarabbi’an he should remain like that and bow in that posture. This is the correct view concerning this matter. (al-Sharh al-Mumti’)

Secondly, with regard to nafil prayers, it is permissible to sit during them with no excuse, according to scholarly consensus, but the reward of the one who sits in that case is half the reward of one who stands, because of the report narrated by Muslim from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr (رضي الله عنه) who said: I was told that the Messenger of Allaah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “The prayer of a man who sits is half of the prayer of a man who stands.” I came to him and found him praying sitting. I put my hand on his head and he said, ‘What is the matter, O ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr?” I said, “I was told, O Messenger of Allaah that you said, ‘The prayer of a man who sits is half of the prayer of a man who stands,’ and you are praying sitting.” He said, “Yes, but I am not like one of you.” (Sharh Saheeh Muslim)

  • Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan, Member of the Council of Senior Scholars, was asked about how one is to pray in a chair when needed.

Excerpt from his reply: “If he is able to stand and sit, but cannot bow or prostrate, then he motions with his head for the bowing while he stands, and he motions with his head for the prostration while he sits.

If he is able to sit, but cannot stand, then he performs the initial takbeerah, the recitation of Al-Faatihah and what is easy of the Quran to recite [while sitting]. He motions with his head for the ruku’ (bowing) while he sits. He prostrates on the ground if his able. If not, then he motions with his head for the prostration while sitting, making his nodding [or bending over] lower for prostration than for bowing.

When praying seated, it is better and more complete to sit on the floor if one is able. If not, then he may sit in a chair, and he does everything a person would do sitting on the floor. The chair is to be lined up along with the row, and it should be a small chair whenever possible, so it does not take a large amount of space and encroach upon the space of those next to, behind, and in front of him. He does not pray directly behind the imam, to leave that place for healthy people who could take his place when needed, or prompt him when he cannot remember something in his recitation. This is due to the statement of Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم), “Let the people of intellect and understanding stand directly behind me [in congregational prayer].”(Muslim)” (Translation by Moosaa Richardson)

Allahu A’lam (Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) knows best) and all Perfections belong to Allah, and all mistakes belong to me alone. May Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) forgive me, Ameen. 

Wassalaam