Source: Fatāwā ‘Ilmiyyah (Tawḍīḥ al-Aḥkām), Vol. 2, p. 56
Is it prohibited to sleep or sit with one’s feet towards the Qiblah?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh. Ammā ba‘d:
◈ There is no explicit prohibition proven from any authentic ḥadīth regarding sleeping or sitting with feet towards the Qiblah.
◈ In common cultural understanding (‘urf), this act is considered improper and disrespectful. Therefore, it is better to avoid intentionally pointing the feet towards the Qiblah without a valid excuse.
◈ In permissible matters, taking ‘urf into account is a commendable act in Sharī‘ah. This principle is supported by the statement of the Prophet ﷺ:
«لولا حدثان قومك لهدمت الكعبة»
“If your people had not only recently entered Islam, I would have demolished the Ka‘bah and rebuilt it upon the foundations laid by Ibrāhīm عليه السلام.”
◈ Based on this consideration of ‘urf, some scholars have classified this act as makrūh (disliked).
References:
ھذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
❖ The Question
Is it prohibited to sleep or sit with one’s feet towards the Qiblah?
Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh. Ammā ba‘d:
◈ There is no explicit prohibition proven from any authentic ḥadīth regarding sleeping or sitting with feet towards the Qiblah.
◈ In common cultural understanding (‘urf), this act is considered improper and disrespectful. Therefore, it is better to avoid intentionally pointing the feet towards the Qiblah without a valid excuse.
◈ In permissible matters, taking ‘urf into account is a commendable act in Sharī‘ah. This principle is supported by the statement of the Prophet ﷺ:
«لولا حدثان قومك لهدمت الكعبة»
“If your people had not only recently entered Islam, I would have demolished the Ka‘bah and rebuilt it upon the foundations laid by Ibrāhīm عليه السلام.”
◈ Based on this consideration of ‘urf, some scholars have classified this act as makrūh (disliked).
References:
- Naf‘ al-Muftī wa-al-Sā’il by ‘Abd al-Ḥayy al-Lakhnawī, p. 58
- Fatāwā Sirājiyyah, p. 72
- Radd al-Muḥtār, pp. 338–339
ھذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
