Ruling on sitting, resting on the heel of the left hand behind one’s back

Question

Praise be to Allah.

Firstly:

This hadith is saheeh. it was narrated by Ahmad (18960), Abu
Dawood (4848), and Ibn Hibbaan in his Saheeh (5674).

It was classed as saheeh by al-Haakim, and adh-Dhahabi agreed
with him. It was also classed as saheeh by an-Nawawi in
Riyadh as-Saaliheen
(1/437); Ibn Muflih in al-Adaab ash-Shar‘iyyah (3/288); and al-Albaani
in Saheeh Abi Dawood.

At-Teebi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: What is meant by
those with whom Allah is angry is the Jews. From the description of them in
these terms we learn two things: firstly, that this manner of sitting is
something that Allah, may He be exalted, hates and, secondly, that the
Muslim is one of those whom Allah has blessed, so he should avoid resembling
those with whom Allah is angry and whom He has cursed. End quote.

Al-Qaari (may Allah have mercy on him) commented by saying:

The idea that what is meant here by “those with whom Allah is
angry” is the Jews is subject to further discussion; the validity of this
interpretation depends on whether this is something unique to them. What is
more likely to be the case is that what is meant by “those with whom Allah
is angry” is more general and includes the arrogant, conceited disbelievers
and evildoers, who show signs of self-admiration and pride in the manner in
which they sit, walk and so on.

End quote from Mirqaat al-Mafaateeh (13/500).

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him)
said:

It was narrated from Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with
him) that he saw a man leaning on his left hand when he was sitting during
the prayer. He said to him: Do not sit like that, for this is how those who
are punished sit. According to another report: That is the way in which
those with whom Allah is angry pray. According to yet another report, the
Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) forbade anyone
to sit during the prayer leaning on his hand. All of that was narrated by
Abu Dawood.

This hadith indicates that it is not allowed to sit in this
manner, for the reason that it is the way in which those who are punished
sit. This is a more effective way of saying that one should avoid their
practices.

End quote from Iqtida’ as-Siraat al-Mustaqeem (p. 65)

Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked:

Some of the scholars said that it is not permissible for a
man to rest on the heel of his left hand. Shaykh al-Islam said that the
Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) passed by a man who was
leaning on his left hand whilst praying, and he (blessings and peace of
Allah be upon him) said to him: “This is the manner of sitting of those with
whom Allah is angry.” Does this apply only to this action – leaning on the
left hand – whilst praying, or is it applicable in all circumstances?

He replied:

Yes, there is a hadith in which the Prophet (blessings and
peace of Allah be upon him) denounced that. What appears to be the case is
that it is general in application and includes prayer and other
circumstances, if one is leaning on the left hand and leaning on the heel of
the hand, like this. The apparent meaning of the hadith is that this is not
allowed.

End quote. Majmoo‘ Fataawa Ibn Baaz (25/161)

If a person wants to lean back, then he should lean on the
heel of his right hand, not his left, or he should lean on both of his hands
together.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

This manner of sitting was described by the Prophet
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) as being the manner of sitting of
those with whom Allah is angry. As for placing both hands behind one’s back
and leaning on them both, there is nothing wrong with that, or if he leans
on his right hand, there is nothing wrong with it. Rather that which the
Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) described as the manner
of sitting of those with whom Allah is angry is placing the left hand behind
one’s back and placing the heel of the hand on the ground and leaning on it.
This is what the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him)
described as the manner of sitting of those with whom Allah is angry.

End quote. Sharh Riyadh as-Saaliheen (p.
930)

He also said:

The meaning of the hadith is clear; it means that a person
should not lean on his left hand placing it behind him, placing the palm on
the ground.

The shaykh was asked: if a person’s intention in sitting in
this manner is to rest, and not to imitate the Jews, is he sinning by doing
that?

He replied: If that is his intention, then let him put the
right hand with it, then the prohibition will no longer apply.

End quote. Fataawa Noor ‘ala ad-Darb (111/19)

Secondly:

Some of the scholars described this manner of sitting as
makrooh. Abu Dawood included this hadith in his Sunan (12/480) in a
chapter entitled: Chapter on disliked manners of sitting.

Ibn Muflih (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

It is makrooh for anyone to lean on his left hand, placing it
behind his back.

End quote. Al-Adaab ash-Shar‘iyyah (3/288)

Something similar was also stated by as-Safaareeni in
Ghidha’ al-Albaab (6/76)

Shaykh ‘Abd al-Muhsin al-‘Abbaad said:

It may be that what is meant by makrooh here is that it is
haraam, or it may mean that it is disliked. But the fact that in this hadith
this manner of sitting is described as the manner of sitting of those with
whom Allah is angry indicates that it is haraam. End quote.

Sharh Sunan Abi Dawood
(28/49)

To sum up:

It is not allowed to sit in this manner in prayer or
otherwise, regardless of whether or not the intention is to imitate those
with whom Allah is angry of the Jews and other arrogant people. The fact
that this manner of sitting is described as the manner of sitting of those
with whom Allah is angry and of those who are punished indicates that the
view that it is haraam is stronger than the view that it is makrooh.

And Allah knows best.