❀ Sunnah Method of Arm Positioning During Tashahhud in Salah ❀
Source: Fatāwā ʿUlamāʾ-e-Ḥadīth, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Volume 1
What is the Shar‘i ruling on keeping the left arm straight and the right arm bent during Tashahhud in prayer? What does the Sunnah say about this posture?
The correct posture of the arms during Tashahhud is clearly outlined in Hadith.
A narration reported in Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ, sourced from Abū Dāwūd and Dāramī, states:
“Hazrat Wāʾil رضي الله عنه said: Then the Prophet ﷺ sat down, spread his left foot, placed his left hand on his left thigh, and raised his right elbow off the right thigh.”
(Hadith: Bāb al-Tashahhud, al-Faṣl al-Thānī)
✔ Left hand: Placed flat on the left thigh, with the left forearm extended.
✔ Right hand: Placed on the right thigh, with the right elbow raised (i.e., the right arm should be bent, not resting flat).
This positioning is Sunnah and should be observed carefully during Tashahhud.
Allah knows best.
Source: Fatāwā ʿUlamāʾ-e-Ḥadīth, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Volume 1
✿ Question:
What is the Shar‘i ruling on keeping the left arm straight and the right arm bent during Tashahhud in prayer? What does the Sunnah say about this posture?
✿ Answer:
The correct posture of the arms during Tashahhud is clearly outlined in Hadith.
A narration reported in Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ, sourced from Abū Dāwūd and Dāramī, states:
“Hazrat Wāʾil رضي الله عنه said: Then the Prophet ﷺ sat down, spread his left foot, placed his left hand on his left thigh, and raised his right elbow off the right thigh.”
(Hadith: Bāb al-Tashahhud, al-Faṣl al-Thānī)
✿ Sunnah Posture:
✔ Left hand: Placed flat on the left thigh, with the left forearm extended.
✔ Right hand: Placed on the right thigh, with the right elbow raised (i.e., the right arm should be bent, not resting flat).
This positioning is Sunnah and should be observed carefully during Tashahhud.
✔ Summary:
Left arm extended and resting naturally on the thigh- Right arm bent, with elbow slightly raised off the thigh
- ✔ This posture is in accordance with the authentic Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ
Allah knows best.
