[Q 703] Man’s Elbows on Legs in Sajdah

Question

Is it permissible for a man to place his elbows on his legs and rest them in namaz when he is in sajdah?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
الجواب بعون الملك الوهاب اللهم هداية الحق والصواب

Answer

For a man, during prostration (sajdah) in prayer, without an excuse, to rest his elbows on his legs or thighs, to lean on them, or to join his arms to his body is against the Sunnah and is makruh. This is because the prescribed (masnun) posture for a man is to keep his arms and elbows separate from his sides, and his abdomen separate from his thighs. However, when in a row (in congregational prayer), his arms should not be separated from his sides.

Nevertheless, this does not invalidate the prayer or necessitate its repetition.

It is stated in Umdat al-Qari Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari:

“المقصود من الاعتدال فيه أن يضع كفه على الأرض و يرفع مرفقيه عنها و عن جنبيه ويرفع البطن عن الفخذ و الحكمة فيه أنه أشبه بالتواضع و أبلغ في تمكين الجبهة من الأرض و أبعد من هيئات الكسالى.”

Translation: The meaning of moderation in prostration is that the worshiper should place his palms on the ground. And he should raise his elbows from the ground and keep them separate from his sides, and his abdomen separate from his thighs. The wisdom behind this is that it is more akin to humility, more effective in firmly placing the forehead on the ground, and further removed from the postures of the lazy.

(Umdat al-Qari Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Salah, vol. 5, p. 19, Published Beirut)

Sadr al-Shari’ah, Mufti Muhammad Amjad Ali A’zami رحمه الله states:

“For a man, the Sunnah in prostration is that his arms should be separate from his sides and his abdomen from his thighs, and he should not spread his forearms on the ground. However, when in a row (in congregational prayer), his arms should not be separated from his sides.”

(Bahar-e-Shari’at, vol. 1, p. 529, Published Maktabat al-Madinah, Karachi)

Answered by: Muteeb Madani (AskMufti Scholar)
Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari
Translated answer
Date: 14th August 2026