Is the sitting of rest a recommended practice?
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Question:
Our brother also asks and says: I believe I heard on the program *Nur 'ala al-Darb*, but I do not remember clearly, that sitting after the first and third rak'ahs is considered an addition that requires the prostration for forgetfulness.
I saw a friend of mine do this, so I pointed it out to him and said: That is an addition. But he insisted that it is reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and that he used to sit calmly before standing for the next rak'ah. However, I did not see any evidence he presented to me. So which of the two is correct? May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
This sitting is called the sitting of rest. It is a light, brief sitting after the first rak'ah in the five daily prayers, and after the third rak'ah in the four-rak'ah prayers. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to sit in it as he sat between the two prostrations. This is established in the hadith of Malik ibn al-Huwayrith in al-Bukhari, and it is established in the Sunan from the hadith of Abu Humayd al-Sa'idi. Therefore, it is recommended (mustahabb) according to the correct view. It is a light sitting after one raises his head from the second prostration in the first rak'ah of all prayers, and in the third rak'ah of the four-rak'ah prayers before standing up for the fourth.
Some scholars held that it is specific to an elderly person, or a sick person, or a heavy person for whom standing up is difficult. But this is not good.
The correct view is that it is a recommended practice (sunnah) absolutely, due to the action of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). This is the correct view. So if one sits in it to seek the recommended practice, he does not have to perform the prostration for forgetfulness, and it is not called an addition that contradicts the Shari'ah. Rather, it is a lawful addition. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Our brother also asks and says: I believe I heard on the program *Nur 'ala al-Darb*, but I do not remember clearly, that sitting after the first and third rak'ahs is considered an addition that requires the prostration for forgetfulness.
I saw a friend of mine do this, so I pointed it out to him and said: That is an addition. But he insisted that it is reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and that he used to sit calmly before standing for the next rak'ah. However, I did not see any evidence he presented to me. So which of the two is correct? May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
This sitting is called the sitting of rest. It is a light, brief sitting after the first rak'ah in the five daily prayers, and after the third rak'ah in the four-rak'ah prayers. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to sit in it as he sat between the two prostrations. This is established in the hadith of Malik ibn al-Huwayrith in al-Bukhari, and it is established in the Sunan from the hadith of Abu Humayd al-Sa'idi. Therefore, it is recommended (mustahabb) according to the correct view. It is a light sitting after one raises his head from the second prostration in the first rak'ah of all prayers, and in the third rak'ah of the four-rak'ah prayers before standing up for the fourth.
Some scholars held that it is specific to an elderly person, or a sick person, or a heavy person for whom standing up is difficult. But this is not good.
The correct view is that it is a recommended practice (sunnah) absolutely, due to the action of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). This is the correct view. So if one sits in it to seek the recommended practice, he does not have to perform the prostration for forgetfulness, and it is not called an addition that contradicts the Shari'ah. Rather, it is a lawful addition. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.