Details on the sitting for rest
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Is the sitting for rest in prayer part of the Sunnah?
The sitting for rest in prayer, such as when one stands up for the second or fourth rak'ah, should one sit or not?The correct view: One should not sit unless there is a reason such as old age, illness, joint pain, or something similar. This is because we know that this sitting is not intended, as it is not preceded by takbir nor followed by takbir, and there is no dhikr in it. Furthermore, those who described the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned that he would lean on his hands when standing up. This indicates the difficulty of his rising in one motion, and that due to the difficulty of rising, he would lean slightly while sitting, then stand up on his hands. It is well known that such a description only occurs in cases of weakness and fatigue.
Therefore, what we see is what Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) and al-Muqaddim, the author of al-Mughni, chose: that it is not an absolute Sunnah, but rather it is recommended for one who needs it due to old age, illness, joint pain, or something similar.
However, the consideration remains: If you are praying behind an imam who does it, do you sit following the imam?Answer: Yes, you sit following the imam.
And if you are praying behind an imam who does not do it, and you consider it a Sunnah, do not sit; because following the imam is more important.
The sitting for rest in prayer, such as when one stands up for the second or fourth rak'ah, should one sit or not?The correct view: One should not sit unless there is a reason such as old age, illness, joint pain, or something similar. This is because we know that this sitting is not intended, as it is not preceded by takbir nor followed by takbir, and there is no dhikr in it. Furthermore, those who described the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned that he would lean on his hands when standing up. This indicates the difficulty of his rising in one motion, and that due to the difficulty of rising, he would lean slightly while sitting, then stand up on his hands. It is well known that such a description only occurs in cases of weakness and fatigue.
Therefore, what we see is what Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) and al-Muqaddim, the author of al-Mughni, chose: that it is not an absolute Sunnah, but rather it is recommended for one who needs it due to old age, illness, joint pain, or something similar.
However, the consideration remains: If you are praying behind an imam who does it, do you sit following the imam?Answer: Yes, you sit following the imam.
And if you are praying behind an imam who does not do it, and you consider it a Sunnah, do not sit; because following the imam is more important.