How a woman sits in prayer

Khalid bin al-Lajlaj said: Women used to be ordered to sit cross-legged when they sat in the prayer, and not to sit as men sit, on their hips. This was avoided for a woman out of fear that something (of her body) might show.

Nafi' said: Safiyyah used to pray sitting cross-legged.

Makhul said: Umm al-Darda used to sit in the prayer as men sit.

Nafi' said: She (the woman) sits cross-legged.

Qatadah said: She sits in whatever way she finds easiest.

Ibrahim said: A woman sits in the prayer just as a man sits.

Nafi' said: The women of the household of Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) used to sit cross-legged in the prayer.

Shu'bah said: I asked Hammad about the way a woman sits in the prayer. He said: She may sit however she wishes.

Ibn Jurayj said: I said to Ata: Should a woman sit in the tashahhud on her left side? He said: Yes. I said: Is that preferable to you than the right side? He said: Yes; she should keep her body drawn together while sitting as much as she can. I said: If a woman sits in the tashahhud as a man sits, or brings her left foot out from under her buttocks, what is the ruling? He said: Once she has drawn her body together, it does her no harm whichever way she sits.

Ibrahim said: A woman sits on one side in the prayer.

Amir said: A woman may sit in the prayer in whatever way is possible for her.

Amir said: A woman sits in the prayer in whatever way is easy (for her).