Fatwa #4730230 September 2021United States of America
Sitting in Tashahud posture while listening to the Khutbah
Question
Is it ok if I sit whilst listening to the Khubah of Jummah cross legged? I have been taught to sit in the tashahud posture while the khutbah is being read. But my knees are not able to take it anymore.
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
It is compulsory to listen to the Khutbah of Jumu’ah attentively.[1] There are also many rewards for doing so.
See the following Hadith:
مَنْ غَسَّلَ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ وَاغْتَسَلَ، ثُمَّ بَكَّرَ وَابْتَكَرَ، وَمَشَى وَلَمْ يَرْكَبْ، وَدَنَا مِنَ الْإِمَامِ فَاسْتَمَعَ وَلَمْ يَلْغُ كَانَ لَهُ بِكُلِّ خُطْوَةٍ عَمَلُ سَنَةٍ أَجْرُ صِيَامِهَا وَقِيَامِهَا
Whosoever takes a bath and leaves early and does not ride but walks and he sits close to the Imam and he listens attentively and does not speak anything futile he will receive for every step the reward of one year’s worth of standing in salaah and fasting. (Abu Dawud-345)[2]
It is not necessary to adopt the Tashahud posture in Khutbah. However, the Tashahud posture is an expression of respect and humility.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Hasan Ahmed Razzak
Student – Darul Iftaa
Paterson, New Jersey, USA
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) (2/ 159)
يَجِبُ الِاسْتِمَاعُ لِسَائِرِ الْخُطَبِ كَخُطْبَةِ نِكَاحٍ وَخُطْبَةِ عِيدٍ وَخَتْمٍ عَلَى الْمُعْتَمَدِ
سنن أبي داود (1/ 95)
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ الْجَرْجَرَائِيُّ حُبِّي، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ، عَنِ الْأَوْزَاعِيِّ، حَدَّثَنِي حَسَّانُ بْنُ عَطِيَّةَ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الْأَشْعَثِ الصَّنْعَانِيُّ، حَدَّثَنِي أَوْسُ بْنُ أَوْسٍ الثَّقَفِيُّ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «مَنْ غَسَّلَ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ وَاغْتَسَلَ، ثُمَّ بَكَّرَ وَابْتَكَرَ، وَمَشَى وَلَمْ يَرْكَبْ، وَدَنَا مِنَ الْإِمَامِ فَاسْتَمَعَ وَلَمْ يَلْغُ كَانَ لَهُ بِكُلِّ خُطْوَةٍ عَمَلُ سَنَةٍ أَجْرُ صِيَامِهَا وَقِيَامِهَا»