What is the correct way to sit during salah?

ByShaykh Haytham Tamim

Salah is a prescriptive form of worship. It is performed in accordance with the way the Prophet (peace be upon him) performed it. Based on the various hadith that recorded the way the Prophet (peace be upon him) sat during his salah, different schools of thought vary in their understanding. As all schools follow authentic narrations, their interpretations  though varied, are equally valid.

Two sitting positions

Iftirash and tawaruq are two different sitting postures in Islamic prayer.

Iftirash: This is when a person sits with their left foot flat on the ground and sits on it, while keeping their right foot upright with the toes pointing towards the qibla.

Tawaruq: This is when a person sits with their left buttock on the ground, placing their left foot under their right leg while keeping the right foot upright with toes pointing towards the qibla.

The Hanafi Position

The Hanafi school supports the iftirash position—sitting on the left foot throughout the salah. This applies in both the middle and final sittings, making it easy to understand and remember.

Women’s Position in the Hanafi School

Regarding women, scholars within the Hanafi school opt for a sitting posture that ensures modesty and prevents exposure. Women’s bodies differ from men’s, so apart from the sitting position, variations exist in ruku, takbir, and sujud as well. While there are no direct narrations from the Prophet (peace be upon him) prescribing different postures, numerous athar (narrations from Companions) highlight distinctions between men’s and women’s positions in salah.

For women, the last sitting follows the tawarruk position, a posture deemed more suitable as it offers greater coverage and modesty.

Other Schools

Other schools have opted for different positions:

  • Maliki School: Follows the tawarruk position throughout the salah.
  • Shafi’i School: Uses iftirash in the middle sitting and tawarruk in the final sitting. In Fajr, since there is only one sitting, it follows tawarruk.
  • Hanbali School: Similar to the Shafi’i position, with iftirash in the middle and tawarruk in the final sitting.

Interestingly, Imam Ahmad, the founder of the Hanbali school, was a student of Imam Shafi’i, leading to significant similarities between their rulings. The Hanbali school often mirrors the Shafi’i approach.

Each school of thought bases its rulings on authentic narrations and scholarly analysis. While the sitting positions differ, the important point is that salah should have the quality of khushoo (tranquilty and focus). If any of these sitting positions causes discomfort, one should adjust their legs and feet so that they can focus on their salah.

Based on the hadith class of Shaykh Haytham 23rd March 2025.