Question:
Is the Hadith regarding Jalsah al-Istirāḥah (the sitting of rest) to be understood as applicable only in cases of excuse or old age?
Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
Some people interpret the Jalsah al-Istirāḥah ḥadīth to mean that the Prophet ﷺ performed this sitting only when he had grown old.
However, this interpretation is contrary to the understanding of the Companions رضي الله عنهم and the scholars of ḥadīth and fiqh.
ما رواه محمول على حالة الكبر
“The narrations establishing Jalsah al-Istirāḥah are to be interpreted as relating to the Prophet’s old age.”
(Al-Hidāyah: 1/110)
“To claim that the ḥadīth of Mālik bin Ḥuwayrith رضي الله عنه is limited to the Prophet’s old age requires proof for such an interpretation.
The Prophet ﷺ instructed Mālik bin Ḥuwayrith, ‘Pray as you have seen me praying.’
He made no exception or restriction.
Therefore, this ḥadīth is a clear proof that following this act is part of his ﷺ Sunnah.”
(Al-Dirāyah: 1/110)
“Regarding the narration in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī where Mālik bin Ḥuwayrith رضي الله عنه saw the Prophet ﷺ sitting straight before standing up,
some have said it was due to old age, as mentioned in Al-Hidāyah.
However, what is the evidence for this claim?
The Prophet ﷺ instructed Mālik bin Ḥuwayrith to pray as he had prayed, without any exception.
Hence, this ḥadīth serves as evidence for Imām al-Shāfiʿī رحمه الله.
The best view is to consider it an act of permissibility (jawāz).
Indeed, Fatāwā Ẓahīriyyah quotes Shams al-A’immah al-Ḥulwānī as saying that the disagreement concerns only which is more virtuous,
and therefore, following the Shāfiʿī position in this matter entails no harm.”
(Al-Baḥr al-Rāʾiq Sharḥ Kanz al-Daqāʾiq: 1/340)
“This interpretation (restricting it to old age) is not acceptable,
for the Prophet ﷺ was about sixty-three years old at the time of his passing,
and a person of that age — without illness or injury — is not incapable of rising straight from prostration.”
(Al-Bināyah Sharḥ al-Hidāyah: 2/252)
“The explanation given by Imām al-Ṭaḥāwī رحمه الله — that the sitting was due to some excuse — is, in my opinion, incorrect.”
(Fayḍ al-Bārī: 2/264)
The claim that Jalsah al-Istirāḥah was practiced only due to old age or excuse is unsupported by evidence.
Hence, Jalsah al-Istirāḥah is a valid Sunnah practice, not limited to specific circumstances.
Is the Hadith regarding Jalsah al-Istirāḥah (the sitting of rest) to be understood as applicable only in cases of excuse or old age?
Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
✿ Answer:
Some people interpret the Jalsah al-Istirāḥah ḥadīth to mean that the Prophet ﷺ performed this sitting only when he had grown old.
However, this interpretation is contrary to the understanding of the Companions رضي الله عنهم and the scholars of ḥadīth and fiqh.
❀ View of the Ḥanafī Scholar Imām al-Marghīnānī رحمه الله (d. 593 AH)
ما رواه محمول على حالة الكبر
“The narrations establishing Jalsah al-Istirāḥah are to be interpreted as relating to the Prophet’s old age.”
(Al-Hidāyah: 1/110)❀ Response by Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī رحمه الله (d. 852 AH)
“To claim that the ḥadīth of Mālik bin Ḥuwayrith رضي الله عنه is limited to the Prophet’s old age requires proof for such an interpretation.
The Prophet ﷺ instructed Mālik bin Ḥuwayrith, ‘Pray as you have seen me praying.’
He made no exception or restriction.
Therefore, this ḥadīth is a clear proof that following this act is part of his ﷺ Sunnah.”
(Al-Dirāyah: 1/110)❀ Statement of ʿAllāmah Ibn Nujaym al-Ḥanafī رحمه الله (d. 970 AH)
“Regarding the narration in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī where Mālik bin Ḥuwayrith رضي الله عنه saw the Prophet ﷺ sitting straight before standing up,
some have said it was due to old age, as mentioned in Al-Hidāyah.
However, what is the evidence for this claim?
The Prophet ﷺ instructed Mālik bin Ḥuwayrith to pray as he had prayed, without any exception.
Hence, this ḥadīth serves as evidence for Imām al-Shāfiʿī رحمه الله.
The best view is to consider it an act of permissibility (jawāz).
Indeed, Fatāwā Ẓahīriyyah quotes Shams al-A’immah al-Ḥulwānī as saying that the disagreement concerns only which is more virtuous,
and therefore, following the Shāfiʿī position in this matter entails no harm.”
(Al-Baḥr al-Rāʾiq Sharḥ Kanz al-Daqāʾiq: 1/340)❀ Statement of ʿAllāmah al-ʿAynī رحمه الله (d. 855 AH), commentator of
“This interpretation (restricting it to old age) is not acceptable,
for the Prophet ﷺ was about sixty-three years old at the time of his passing,
and a person of that age — without illness or injury — is not incapable of rising straight from prostration.”
(Al-Bināyah Sharḥ al-Hidāyah: 2/252)❀ Statement of ʿAllāmah Anwar Shāh al-Kashmīrī رحمه الله (d. 1353 AH)
“The explanation given by Imām al-Ṭaḥāwī رحمه الله — that the sitting was due to some excuse — is, in my opinion, incorrect.”
(Fayḍ al-Bārī: 2/264)
Conclusion:
The claim that Jalsah al-Istirāḥah was practiced only due to old age or excuse is unsupported by evidence.
- The Prophet ﷺ commanded his followers, including Mālik bin Ḥuwayrith رضي الله عنه, to pray as he prayed, with no exceptions.
- Leading scholars such as Ibn Ḥajar, Ibn Nujaym, al-ʿAynī, and al-Kashmīrī all rejected the notion that this Sunnah act was restricted to old age or necessity.
Hence, Jalsah al-Istirāḥah is a valid Sunnah practice, not limited to specific circumstances.
