Riyad as-Salihin · Chapter 312

Undesirability of Sitting with Erected Legs during Friday Sermon

باب كراهة الاحتباء يوم الجمعة والإمام يخطب لأنه يجلب النوم فيفوت استماع الخطبة ويخاف انتقاض الوضوء

This brief chapter addresses a single posture during the Friday sermon: ihtiba', sitting with the knees drawn up and wrapped toward the belly. Such a position invites drowsiness, and the concern is that a worshipper may doze off and miss the words of the khutbah.

The point is attentiveness. The Friday sermon is meant to be heard and taken in, so the believer is guided away from a comfortable, sleep-inducing posture toward staying alert and present for the reminder.

Hadith 1705

Mu'adh bin Anas Al-Juhani (May Allah be pleased with him) said:

عن معاذ بن أنس الجهني، رضي الله عنه، أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم نهى عن الحبوة يوم الجمعة والإمام يخطب ‏(‏‏(‏رواه أبو داود والترمذي وقالا‏:‏ حديث حسن‏)‏‏)‏

The Prophet (ﷺ) forbade (us) from sitting with our legs drawn up to our belly (Ihtiba') during the Friday Khutbah (religious talk before the prayer). [Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi].

In plain words

Sitting during the Friday sermon with the knees drawn up and wrapped toward the belly is discouraged, because that comfortable posture invites drowsiness and one may miss the words of the sermon.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1705 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 195