Leaning on one foot during a long standing (qiyam)

Question

Respected Mufti! Kindly favour us with an answer to the following issue. In “Alamgiri”, in the discussion of standing (qiyam) in prayer, this text is quoted: [ar]ويكره التمايل على يمناه مرة وعلى يسراه أخرى، كذا في الذخيرة. ويكره التراوح بين القدمين في الصلاة إلا بعذر، وكذا القيام بإحدى القدمين، كذا في الظهيرية[/ar] “It is makruh to sway, [leaning] once to the right and another time to the left; so in ‘al-Dhakhira’. It is makruh in prayer to do tarawuh (shifting one’s weight alternately from one foot to the other)

Answer

The jurists have written that tarawuh is better (afdal), and they have stated its reason ('illa): [ar]لأنه أيسر وأمكن لطول القيام[/ar] “…because it is easier and more conducive to a long standing.” From this it is understood that if the standing is not long, the basic rule is not to do tarawuh.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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