Q: Regarding the two nafl after the Witr Salaah, I have seen and been told that it's sunnah to read it sitting down. What if I am young and have no ailments that require me to sit down and read this salaah, is it still sunnah to sit and read it?
A: It is reported in the mubaarak Ahaadith that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) would perform the two rakaats of nafil after the Witr while sitting.
In regard to performing nafil salaah sitting (without a valid excuse), then it is permissible for the ummah to do so, however one will only receive half the reward compared to performing the nafil salaah standing.
This law pertains to the ummah as mentioned in the Mubaarak Ahaadith. As for Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), even if he performed the nafil salaah sitting, he will receive the full reward for the salaah. This honour and privilege is exclusive to Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam).
Some of our pious predecessors, the likes of Hazrat Shaikhul Hind, Moulana Mahmood - ul - Hasan Deobandi (rahimahullah), and Hazrat Shaikhul Hadith, Moulana Muhammad Zakariyya Khandelwi (rahimahullah), preferred performing these two rakaats of nafil sitting - even though the reward is half - as this was the way Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) had performed this salaah.
Some of our other pious predecessors, the likes of Hazrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thaanwi (rahimahullah), preferred performing these two rakaats standing in order to receive the full reward.
Hence, one may perform these two rakaats nafil after the Witr Salaah standing or sitting.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
عن أم سلمة رضي الله عنها أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يركع ركعتين بعد الوتر وهو جالس (مسند أحمد، الرقم: 26553)
عن أبي سلمة قال: سألت عائشة عن صلاة رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فقالت: كان يصلي ثلاث عشرة ركعة يصلي ثمان ركعات ثم يوتر ثم يصلي ركعتين وهو جالس (صحيح مسلم، الرقم: 738)
و(لكن له) أي للمتنفل جالسا (نصف أجر القائم) لقوله صلى الله عليه و سلم: من صلى قائما فهو أفضل ومن صلى قاعدا فله نصف أجر القائم ومن صلى نائما فله نصف أجر القاعد (إلا) أنهم قالوا: هذا في حق القادر (حاشية الطحطاوي صـ 403)
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