❖ Ruling on Praying and Prostrating on Cotton Mattresses or Thick Carpets
Source: Fatāwā Muhammadiyyah, Vol. 1, p. 387
Question by a Resident of Sialkot
Nowadays, some mosques are furnished with cotton-filled mattresses or thick carpets. Is it permissible to prostrate and perform prayers on such surfaces?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa as-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd:
Praying on cotton mattresses is not the most preferable option; however, it is permissible. Below are some reasons supporting this ruling:
◈ It is authentically reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed on cotton mats, beds, and mats made of palm leaves.
◈ These reports are found in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī under the chapters:
Bāb aṣ-Ṣalāh ʿalā al-ḥaṣīr, Bāb aṣ-Ṣalāh ʿalā al-khumrah, Bāb aṣ-Ṣalāh ʿalā al-firāsh (Vol. 1, p. 55).
عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، أَنَّ جَدَّتَهُ مُلَيْكَةَ دَعَتْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لِطَعَامٍ ... فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ، وَصَفَفْتُ وَاليَتِيمَ وَرَاءَهُ، وَالعَجُوزُ مِنْ وَرَائِنَا، فَصَلَّى لَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ رَكْعَتَيْنِ، ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ.
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Vol. 1, p. 55)
Anas (رضي الله عنه) narrates that the Prophet ﷺ led them in prayer on a mat.
فِيهِ جَوَازُ الصَّلَاةِ عَلَى الْحَصِيرِ وَسَائِرِ مَا تُنْبِتُهُ الْأَرْضُ ...
(Sharḥ Nawawī ʿala Muslim, Vol. 1, p. 234)
This establishes that it is permissible to pray on anything that grows from the earth.
Conclusion:
Since mattresses are made of cotton and cloth, both of which are products of the earth, praying on them is permissible.
عَن عبداللہ بن شداد عَن میمونة قالت کان النبیﷺ یصلی علی الخمرة
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Vol. 1, p. 55)
Ibn Ḥajar explains that "Khumrah" refers to a small mat made of palm leaves, used to protect from heat or cold.
(Tuḥfah al-Aḥwadhī, Vol. 1, p. 272; Fatḥ al-Bārī, Vol. 1, p. 324)
The same reasoning applies today regarding carpets or mattresses in mosques—they serve as protection from heat or cold.
Although some Companions such as ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd (رضي الله عنه), Ibrāhīm al-Nakhaʿī, and Imām Aswad regarded praying on soft mats (ṭanāfis) as undesirable, others allowed prostration on garments, turbans, and caps.
كُنَّا نُصَلِّي مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ، فَيَضَعُ أَحَدُنَا طَرَفَ الثَّوْبِ مِنْ شِدَّة الحَرِّ فِي مَكَانِ السُّجُودِ
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Vol. 1, p. 56)
Ibn Ḥajar says that this is permissible, though direct prostration on the ground is superior.
(Fatḥ al-Bārī, Vol. 1, p. 414 / New Edition: p. 650)
أُبَالِی لَوْ صَلَّیْتُ عَلَی خَمْسِ طَنَافِسَ
(Nayl al-Awṭār, Vol. 2, p. 144)
Similarly, it is also confirmed from Ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنه) that he prayed on ṭanāfis (soft mats).
Imām al-Shawkānī states:
وَإِلَى جَوَازِ الصَّلَاةِ عَلَى الطَّنَافِسِ ذَهَبَ جُمْهُورُ الْعُلَمَاءِ
(Nayl al-Awṭār, Vol. 1, p. 144)
The majority of scholars and jurists permit praying on soft mats.
As found in Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī:
فَقَالَ يَا أَفْلَحُ تَرِبَ وَجْهُكَ
(Tuḥfah al-Aḥwadhī, Vol. 1, p. 297)
◈ The narrators of this ḥadīth are weak, as noted by the scholars of ḥadīth.
◈ Additionally, this statement merely emphasized pressing the forehead firmly to the ground, not removing everything to prostrate on bare soil.
(Nayl al-Awṭār, Vol. 2, p. 144)
◈ Out of humility and submission, it is more virtuous to prostrate directly on the ground.
◈ However, praying and prostrating on light cotton mattresses or thick carpets is permissible, especially when used to protect from cold or heat, or for general comfort.
Source: Fatāwā Muhammadiyyah, Vol. 1, p. 387
Question by a Resident of Sialkot
❀ Question
Nowadays, some mosques are furnished with cotton-filled mattresses or thick carpets. Is it permissible to prostrate and perform prayers on such surfaces?
✔ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa as-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd:
Praying on cotton mattresses is not the most preferable option; however, it is permissible. Below are some reasons supporting this ruling:
➊ Practice of the Noble Prophet ﷺ
◈ It is authentically reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed on cotton mats, beds, and mats made of palm leaves.
◈ These reports are found in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī under the chapters:
Bāb aṣ-Ṣalāh ʿalā al-ḥaṣīr, Bāb aṣ-Ṣalāh ʿalā al-khumrah, Bāb aṣ-Ṣalāh ʿalā al-firāsh (Vol. 1, p. 55).
✿ Ḥadīth of Anas (رضي الله عنه)
عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، أَنَّ جَدَّتَهُ مُلَيْكَةَ دَعَتْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لِطَعَامٍ ... فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ، وَصَفَفْتُ وَاليَتِيمَ وَرَاءَهُ، وَالعَجُوزُ مِنْ وَرَائِنَا، فَصَلَّى لَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ رَكْعَتَيْنِ، ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ.
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Vol. 1, p. 55)
Anas (رضي الله عنه) narrates that the Prophet ﷺ led them in prayer on a mat.
✿ Commentary of Imām Nawawī (رحمه الله)
فِيهِ جَوَازُ الصَّلَاةِ عَلَى الْحَصِيرِ وَسَائِرِ مَا تُنْبِتُهُ الْأَرْضُ ...
(Sharḥ Nawawī ʿala Muslim, Vol. 1, p. 234)
This establishes that it is permissible to pray on anything that grows from the earth.
Conclusion:
Since mattresses are made of cotton and cloth, both of which are products of the earth, praying on them is permissible.
➋ Ḥadīth of ʿĀ’ishah (رضي الله عنها)
عَن عبداللہ بن شداد عَن میمونة قالت کان النبیﷺ یصلی علی الخمرة
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Vol. 1, p. 55)
Ibn Ḥajar explains that "Khumrah" refers to a small mat made of palm leaves, used to protect from heat or cold.
(Tuḥfah al-Aḥwadhī, Vol. 1, p. 272; Fatḥ al-Bārī, Vol. 1, p. 324)
The same reasoning applies today regarding carpets or mattresses in mosques—they serve as protection from heat or cold.
➌ Practice of the Companions (رضي الله عنهم)
Although some Companions such as ʿAbdullāh ibn Masʿūd (رضي الله عنه), Ibrāhīm al-Nakhaʿī, and Imām Aswad regarded praying on soft mats (ṭanāfis) as undesirable, others allowed prostration on garments, turbans, and caps.
✿ Ḥadīth of Anas (رضي الله عنه)
كُنَّا نُصَلِّي مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ، فَيَضَعُ أَحَدُنَا طَرَفَ الثَّوْبِ مِنْ شِدَّة الحَرِّ فِي مَكَانِ السُّجُودِ
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Vol. 1, p. 56)
Ibn Ḥajar says that this is permissible, though direct prostration on the ground is superior.
(Fatḥ al-Bārī, Vol. 1, p. 414 / New Edition: p. 650)
✿ Statement of Abū al-Dardā’ (رضي الله عنه)
أُبَالِی لَوْ صَلَّیْتُ عَلَی خَمْسِ طَنَافِسَ
(Nayl al-Awṭār, Vol. 2, p. 144)
Similarly, it is also confirmed from Ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنه) that he prayed on ṭanāfis (soft mats).
Imām al-Shawkānī states:
وَإِلَى جَوَازِ الصَّلَاةِ عَلَى الطَّنَافِسِ ذَهَبَ جُمْهُورُ الْعُلَمَاءِ
(Nayl al-Awṭār, Vol. 1, p. 144)
The majority of scholars and jurists permit praying on soft mats.
➍ Clarifying the Ḥadīth of Umm Salamah (رضي الله عنها)
As found in Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī:
فَقَالَ يَا أَفْلَحُ تَرِبَ وَجْهُكَ
(Tuḥfah al-Aḥwadhī, Vol. 1, p. 297)
◈ The narrators of this ḥadīth are weak, as noted by the scholars of ḥadīth.
◈ Additionally, this statement merely emphasized pressing the forehead firmly to the ground, not removing everything to prostrate on bare soil.
(Nayl al-Awṭār, Vol. 2, p. 144)
➎ Summary of the Ruling
◈ Out of humility and submission, it is more virtuous to prostrate directly on the ground.
◈ However, praying and prostrating on light cotton mattresses or thick carpets is permissible, especially when used to protect from cold or heat, or for general comfort.
