Praying Non-Obligatory Nawafil Sitting Down
Sayyiduna Imran ibn Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that he asked the Prophet ﷺ about praying while sitting. The Prophet ﷺ said:“Whoever prays standing, that is better. Whoever prays sitting will have half the reward of the one who prays standing. And whoever prays lying down will have half the reward of the one who prays sitting.”Imam Muhammad al-Bukhari رحمه الله clarified that the word “na’iman” in the hadith means lying down. This narration is recorded with an authentic chain in Sahih al-Bukhari (1116).This ruling applies to the one who prays voluntary (nafl) prayer sitting without a valid excuse. However, if a person has an illness, weakness, or a legitimate excuse, then there is no reduction in reward, because they are praying according to their ability.