❖ Types of Iq‘āʾ (Sitting Posture) and Their Shar‘i Rulings ❖
✍ Response by: Shaykh Khidr Hayat ḥafiẓahullāh
What are the forms of Iq‘āʾ in Salah? Is it prohibited only during prayer?
Imām Nawawī رحمه الله, in his Sharḥ Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, identifies two primary forms of Iq‘āʾ:
✔ This form of sitting is established by Sunnah, and may be adopted between the two prostrations (sajdatayn).
How to Perform It:
Evidence from ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما:
“We asked him about sitting Iq‘āʾ-style (on the feet), and he said: It is Sunnah.
We said: It seems difficult. He replied: It is the Sunnah of your Prophet ﷺ.”
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 536
✔ This practice is encouraged to be performed occasionally, as part of emulating the Sunnah.
This refers to a dog-like or devil-like posture, which is explicitly forbidden in authentic narrations.
Description:
Narration from ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade sitting on the buttocks with raised knees like the devil, and spreading arms on the ground like a beast.”
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 498
Narration from Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه:
“The Prophet ﷺ prohibited me from sitting Iq‘āʾ like a dog.”
Musnad Aḥmad: 8106
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Targhīb wa al-Tarhīb: 555
✔ The prohibited form of Iq‘āʾ remains impermissible even outside Salah, as it imitates the sitting posture of animals (dog or beast), which is discouraged in Islamic manners.
◈ Sunnah Iq‘āʾ: Allowed and encouraged between the two prostrations.
◈ Prohibited Iq‘āʾ: Imitating dogs or devils in posture is forbidden in both Salah and general sitting.
◈ Muslims should distinguish between Sunnah practices and prohibited forms to maintain the proper etiquette of prayer and conduct.
✍ Response by: Shaykh Khidr Hayat ḥafiẓahullāh
❖ Question:
What are the forms of Iq‘āʾ in Salah? Is it prohibited only during prayer?
❖ Definition and Types of Iq‘āʾ
Imām Nawawī رحمه الله, in his Sharḥ Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, identifies two primary forms of Iq‘āʾ:
➊ Sunnah Iq‘āʾ – Permissible and Recommended
✔ This form of sitting is established by Sunnah, and may be adopted between the two prostrations (sajdatayn).
How to Perform It:
- Raise both feet upright, as done during sujūd.
- Sit with the buttocks resting on the heels.
Evidence from ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما:“We asked him about sitting Iq‘āʾ-style (on the feet), and he said: It is Sunnah.
We said: It seems difficult. He replied: It is the Sunnah of your Prophet ﷺ.”
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 536✔ This practice is encouraged to be performed occasionally, as part of emulating the Sunnah.
➋ Prohibited Iq‘āʾ – Ḥarām and Condemned
This refers to a dog-like or devil-like posture, which is explicitly forbidden in authentic narrations.Description:
- Sitting on the buttocks
- Legs spread forward or crouched awkwardly
- Hands placed on the ground, mimicking the posture of a dog
Narration from ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها:“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade sitting on the buttocks with raised knees like the devil, and spreading arms on the ground like a beast.”
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 498 Narration from Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه:“The Prophet ﷺ prohibited me from sitting Iq‘āʾ like a dog.”
Musnad Aḥmad: 8106 Ṣaḥīḥ al-Targhīb wa al-Tarhīb: 555❖ Shar‘i Ruling
| Type of Iq‘āʾ | Ruling |
|---|---|
| Sunnah Iq‘āʾ | Permissible and Sunnah between two sajdahs |
| Prohibited (dog-like) | Ḥarām – strictly prohibited in and outside Salah |
❖ Outside of Salah
✔ The prohibited form of Iq‘āʾ remains impermissible even outside Salah, as it imitates the sitting posture of animals (dog or beast), which is discouraged in Islamic manners.
Summary
◈ Sunnah Iq‘āʾ: Allowed and encouraged between the two prostrations.
◈ Prohibited Iq‘āʾ: Imitating dogs or devils in posture is forbidden in both Salah and general sitting.
◈ Muslims should distinguish between Sunnah practices and prohibited forms to maintain the proper etiquette of prayer and conduct.
