The Ruling on the Sitting for Rest

The questioner:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success, the author (may Allah have mercy on him) did not mention it.

The Shaykh:
Yes.

The questioner:
The author (may Allah have mercy on him) did not mention the sitting of rest, so what is the ruling regarding it?

The Shaykh:
The author (may Allah have mercy on him) did not mention it because he did not consider it prescribed, and the majority of scholars do not consider it prescribed. The sitting of rest, which is the view of most scholars, is not prescribed. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) only did it out of necessity when his body became heavy for him (peace and blessings be upon him). He did not do it as something prescribed, but rather he did it out of his own need (peace and blessings be upon him). So whoever needs it due to the heaviness of his body or his advanced age does it as a permissible act; it becomes permissible out of necessity. And whoever does not need it, it is not prescribed. This is the correct view held by most scholars.

The questioner:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah reward you.

The Shaykh:
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not do it in the early part of his life, but only did it when he (peace and blessings be upon him) reached [a certain age].