Authored by: Shaykh Mubashar Ahmad Rabbani (Hafizahullah)
Question:
Should Nawafil prayers be offered while sitting or standing? Some people suggest that they should be performed sitting after the Isha prayer. Please clarify this in light of the Qur'an and Hadith.
Answer:
Nawafil prayers should ideally be offered standing in order to attain the full reward. If someone performs them while sitting without any valid excuse, they will receive only half the reward. However, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) is an exception to this rule; he would receive the full reward even when performing prayers while sitting.
Abdullah bin Amr bin Al-As (رضي الله عنه) narrates:
"I was informed that performing prayer while sitting earns half the reward, so I came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and found him praying while sitting. I placed my hand on my head (out of concern). He (ﷺ) asked, 'O Abdullah bin Amr, what happened to you?' I said, 'I have been informed that you said performing prayer while sitting earns half the reward, but I see you praying while sitting.' He (ﷺ) replied, 'I am not like any one of you.'”
[Sahih Muslim, Book of the Prayer of the Traveler: Chapter on the Permissibility of Offering Optional Prayers Standing or Sitting, Hadith 753]
From this authentic Hadith, it is clear that Nawafil should be performed standing to obtain the full reward. If they are performed while sitting without a valid excuse, only half the reward will be given. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was uniquely granted the full reward for prayers performed sitting.
Thus, in order to maximize the reward, one should perform Nawafil standing. Additionally, performing obligatory (fard) prayers while sitting without a valid excuse is not permissible. For further details, refer to Mirqat Sharh Mishkat: Chapter on Moderation in Deeds, Volume 4.
Question:
Should Nawafil prayers be offered while sitting or standing? Some people suggest that they should be performed sitting after the Isha prayer. Please clarify this in light of the Qur'an and Hadith.
Answer:
Nawafil prayers should ideally be offered standing in order to attain the full reward. If someone performs them while sitting without any valid excuse, they will receive only half the reward. However, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) is an exception to this rule; he would receive the full reward even when performing prayers while sitting.
Abdullah bin Amr bin Al-As (رضي الله عنه) narrates:
"I was informed that performing prayer while sitting earns half the reward, so I came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and found him praying while sitting. I placed my hand on my head (out of concern). He (ﷺ) asked, 'O Abdullah bin Amr, what happened to you?' I said, 'I have been informed that you said performing prayer while sitting earns half the reward, but I see you praying while sitting.' He (ﷺ) replied, 'I am not like any one of you.'”
[Sahih Muslim, Book of the Prayer of the Traveler: Chapter on the Permissibility of Offering Optional Prayers Standing or Sitting, Hadith 753]
From this authentic Hadith, it is clear that Nawafil should be performed standing to obtain the full reward. If they are performed while sitting without a valid excuse, only half the reward will be given. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was uniquely granted the full reward for prayers performed sitting.
Thus, in order to maximize the reward, one should perform Nawafil standing. Additionally, performing obligatory (fard) prayers while sitting without a valid excuse is not permissible. For further details, refer to Mirqat Sharh Mishkat: Chapter on Moderation in Deeds, Volume 4.