is not a single, fixed occurrence such that we could say there is a contradiction. Rather, the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, prayed five times each day. Whenever reconciliation is possible, it must be adopted before claiming abrogation or giving one report preference over another.

Then he sits in his final tashahhud in the tawarruk position …

His statement, “Then he sits in his final tashahhud in the tawarruk position,” means that, after completing what remains—either one rakʿah, if the prayer consists of three rakʿahs, or two rakʿahs, if it consists of four—he sits in the final tashahhud in the tawarruk position.

The manner of tawarruk is to bring the left leg out on the right side, laid flat, while sitting upon the buttocks on the ground, with the right leg upright. (1) This is one of the forms of tawarruk.

The second form is to lay both feet flat and bring them out on the right side. (2)

The third form is to lay the right foot flat and place the left foot between the thigh and shin of the right leg. (3)

All of these forms of tawarruk have been reported from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. Accordingly, we say: a person should do this one time and that another time, based on the principle established by the scholars: when acts of worship have been transmitted in varied forms, they should be performed in all the reported ways. This more fully realizes adherence to the sunnah than restricting oneself to a single form. (4)