Tarabbu (sitting cross-legged in prayer)

Tarabbu is a way of sitting in which one sits on the hips with the right knee stretched to the right. It is allowed in prayer for one who cannot stand, is disliked in an obligatory prayer without excuse by the Hanafis, and is allowed in a voluntary prayer while one can stand. ^{1 3}

Tarabbu is sitting on the hips, stretching the right knee to the right and the right foot to the left, with the left reversed. ¹ Related postures are: ihtiba, sitting on the buttocks with the knees raised and held by the hands; iftirash, folding the left foot and sitting on it; iqa, sitting on the buttocks with the shins raised, or on the heels; and tawarruk, raising the right foot and sitting on the left with the foot folded. ²

All scholars agree that one who cannot stand may pray sitting, on the hadith of Imran ibn Husayn: "pray standing; if you cannot, sitting; if you cannot, on your side". ² For the excused, the sitting posture is disputed. The Malikis in the accepted view, the Shafi'is in one view and the Hanbalis recommend tarabbu. Abu Hanifa, in one narration, lets him sit as he likes; in another he sits cross-legged and then folds the leg at bowing. The Shafi'is in the sounder view have him fold the leg; the Malikis, in one view, have him sit as for the testimony. ^{2 3}

Tarabbu departs from the required posture in both testimonies of prayer. The Hanafis hold it disliked without excuse, on the report that Ibn Umar forbade his son to sit cross-legged in prayer, saying that his legs would not carry him. Ibn Abd al-Barr reported agreement that a healthy man may not sit cross-legged in an obligatory prayer; Ibn Hajar read this as stating disapproval. ³ The Shafi'is recommend tawarruk at the end of prayer and iftirash during it; the Hanbalis recommend iftirash in the first testimony and tawarruk in the second. ⁴

There is no dispute that a voluntary prayer may be offered sitting while one can stand, though standing is better, on the hadith that one who prays standing has more, and one who prays sitting has half the reward of the standing man. Aisha said the Prophet ﷺ prayed much of his prayer sitting. ^{3 4} The Malikis, Hanbalis and, in one view, the Shafi'is recommend that one who prays voluntarily sitting open the prayer cross-legged and then change to the posture of bowing. Abu Hanifa and Muhammad let him choose between sitting, tarabbu and ihtiba during recitation. The Shafi'is in the sounder view have him fold the leg. ⁴

There is no harm in reciting the Qur'an in any position, standing, sitting, cross-legged, lying down, riding or walking, on the report of Aisha that the Prophet would lean on her lap while menstruating and recite. ⁴