By Ishaaq bn AbdirRaheem Aboo Aamir
Bismillaah-ir-Rahmaan-ir-Raheem
The author of al-Qaamoos said: al-Ihtibaa is basically to use a turban or anything similar to hold the two legs with one’s back while the hips are raised and the knees look upward.
In essence, any sitting position whereby the legs are raised such that the hands rest on the raised knees or made to rest behind one’s rear is Ihtibaa.
It is discouraged to carry out this sitting position on the day of Jumu’ah while the Imaam delivers the khutbah.
Aboo Daawud, at-Tirimidhi, Ibn Abee Shaybah and others recorded that the Messenger of Allaah forbade al-Ihitbaa on the day of Jumu’ah while the Imaam delivers the khutbah. Declared as hasan by al-Imaam Al-Albaanee – rahimahullaah – in Saheeh Jaamis-Sagheer (6876).
عَنْ سَهْل٠بْن٠مÙعَاذ٠بْن٠أَنَس٠الْجÙÙ‡ÙŽÙ†Ùىّ٠عَنْ أَبÙيه٠: أَنَّ رَسÙولَ اللَّه٠-صلى الله عليه وسلم- Ù†ÙŽÙ‡ÙŽÙ‰ عَنْ الْØَبْوَة٠يَوْمَ الْجÙÙ…Ùعَة٠وَالإÙمَام٠يَخْطÙبÙ.
Al-Imaam al-Mubaarakfooree -–ahimahullaah - said in Tuhfatul Ahwadhee that al-Imaam Al-Khattaabee said:
‘Ihtibaa is forbidden at that particular time because it could lead to sleep and could make one lose his purity. There has been another report whereby Ihtibaa is absolutely prohibited without being limited to the time of khutbah or the day of Jumu’ah because the sitting position can easily lead to the exposure of one’s nakedness if one has only one cloth on.’
See Tuhfatul Ahwadhee bi Shar’h Jaamit Tir’midhee [2/55]
