al-As from fasting continuously, and directed him to fast one day and break his fast the next (1). He also forbade him from standing in prayer throughout the entire night, directing him instead to sleep for half the night, pray for a third of it, and sleep for a sixth of it (267). This demonstrates that the Prophet’s law, peace and blessings be upon him, is founded upon ease and facility.

Malik ibn al-Huwayrith came to him toward the end of his life. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, loved to make things easy for himself; thus, he would sit and then support himself with his hands on the ground (2). This indicates that standing up involved some difficulty for him, as evidenced by his supporting himself on the ground. For one who is energetic, even if he sits for the tashahhud or for another reason, does not need to support himself.

They also said: It is known that all the distinct acts of prayer are either pillars or obligatory acts. Yet this is neither a pillar nor an obligation by consensus. At most, the scholars differed as to whether it is legislated; moreover, more than one scholar has related consensus that it is not a pillar.

Furthermore, every act of prayer has a prescribed remembrance, or includes a remembrance, whereas this has no prescribed remembrance and contains no remembrance. This shows that it is not an act of worship in itself.

Accordingly, we say: if a person needs it, it becomes legislated due to something else—namely, for comfort and to avoid hardship. But if he does not need it, then it is not legislated.