‍QUESTION:

What do the scholars of the Dīn and muftīs of the Sacred Law state regarding the following issue: What is the method of sitting in Jalsah and Qa’dah Akhīrah. What is the ruling regarding keeping one foot stood in these positions and also bending the toes. What is the ruling regarding someone who cannot bend the toes due to a certain reason. What is the ruling for women with regards to this?

Questioner: Ashraf from UK

ANSWER:

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم
الجواب بعون الملک الوھاب اللھم ھدایۃ الحق والصواب

The sitting in between the two Sajdahs [prostrations] is known as Jalsah and when one sits for the second tashahhud, this is known as Qa’dah Akhīrah. The Sunnah method for sitting in both positions is that that the left foot is laid on the side and one sits in such a manner that both buttocks are placed on it. Also, to have the right foot stood up is Sunnah, and it is also Sunnah to have the toes facing towards Qiblah; all of this is for males.

Just as it is stated in Tanwīr al-Absār ma’ Durr Mukhtār,

“يَفْتَرِشُ الرَّجُلُ رِجْلَهُ الْيُسْرَى وَيَجْلِسُ عَلَيْهَا وَيَنْصِبُ رِجْلَهُ الْيُمْنَى وَيُوَجِّهُ أَصَابِعَهُ) فِي الْمَنْصُوبَةِ (نَحْوَ الْقِبْلَةِ) هُوَ السُّنَّةُ فِي الْفَرْضِ وَالنَّفَلِ”

“Men are to lay their left foot and sit on it, keep the right upright and face the toes towards Qiblah; this is Sunnah for both Fard & Nafl Salāh.”

[Durr Mukhtār ma’ Radd al-Muhtār, vol 1, pg 494]

Not having the foot upright or bending the toes and not facing them towards Qiblah is in contradiction to the Sunnah, in the case when there is no valid reason, and it deprives oneself from reward. However, there is no problem if there is a valid reason.

Just as it is stated in Radd al-Muhtār,

“فَلَوْ تَرَبَّعَ أَوْ تَوَرَّكَ خَالَفَ السُّنَّةَ”

“Whomever sat [normally]/cross-legged or propped themselves on their thighs (in contradiction to the aforementioned method) has contradicted the Sunnah.”

[Durr Mukhtār ma’ Radd al-Muhtār, vol 1, pg 494]

It is Sunnah for a woman in Jalsah and Qa’dah to sit on the left buttock and have both feet facing towards the right.

Just as it is stated in Bahār-e-Sharī’at that females should sit with both the legs to the right side, sitting on the left buttock.

[Bahār-e-Sharī’at, vol 1, part 3, pg 530]

واللہ تعالی اعلم ورسولہ اعلم صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم
کتبہ ابو الحسن محمد قاسم ضیاء قادری

Answered by Mufti Qasim Zia al-Qadri
Translated by Haider Ali

Read the original Urdu answer here: [Q-ID0563] What should the positioning of the feet and toes be whilst sitting in Salah?

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