Fath al-Rabbani

Benefits: … What is meant by اِشْتِمَالُ الصَّمَّائ? Hafiz Ibn Hajar said: The linguists say: It is when a person wraps a garment around his body in such a way that he neither lifts any part of it to any side, nor does he leave enough space for his hand to come out. Ibn Qutaybah said: The reason for naming it "samma’" is that its form closes all openings, thus it becomes like a solid rock in which there is no hole. As for the jurists (fuqaha), they said: A man wraps a garment around his body and then lifts one edge and places it on his shoulder, so that his private parts become exposed. (Fath al-Bari: 1/629) The narration of Sunan Abi Dawud (4080) supports this meaning; in it, it is stated: The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam forbade two types of clothing: for a man to sit in such a way that his private parts become exposed from above, and to wear a garment in such a way that one side remains uncovered and the garment is thrown over the shoulder. Although the definition of one of the narrators of this hadith, Sayyiduna Abu Sa’id al-Khudri radi Allahu anhu, is similar to the definition of the jurists, Allamah Azimabadi says: If the word "samma’" is taken into consideration, then there is no room for this meaning; the meaning stated by Asma’i is closer to this word. He says: It is when a man covers his entire body with a single garment in such a way that not even a hole remains for his hand to come out, and thus he cannot defend himself from harmful things with his hands. (Awn al-Ma’bud: 1/1122)

Habwah (sitting posture): To sit on the buttocks with the knees raised and to clasp both hands around them for support, or to tie a cloth around the back and knees. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam himself used to sit in this manner, so sitting in this way is permissible, provided that the one sitting does not become exposed, as is also understood from this hadith.