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The prayer of the sick

صلاة المريض

Praying as you are able: standing, then sitting, then on your side, then lying down; the prayer never falls while the mind is sound.

Quran

'Imran ibn Husayn, who suffered from piles, asked the Prophet ﷺ about the prayer, and he told him to pray standing, and if he could not, sitting, and if he could not, on his side (al-Bukhari 1117).

islamweb's fatwa adds the command to fear Allah as much as you can (64:16): the sick person prays as he is able, and the prayer does not fall from him in any state while his mind is sound. The schools differ on some details, set out in each step.

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As far as you are able

  1. As far as you are able

    Pray standing if you can; islamweb's article says this is the basis, and a Maliki report adds leaning on a staff before sitting.

    Sources: Sahih al-Bukhari 1117; The prayer of the sick (islamweb)

  2. As far as you are able

    If you cannot stand, pray sitting; the scholars are agreed on this.

    All four schools: description

    Where the schools differ

    On how to sit in place of standing: cross-legged for the majority; as for the tashahhud for Abu Hanifa.

    Sources: The prayer of the sick (islamweb)

  3. As far as you are able

    If you cannot sit, pray on your side facing the qiblah, preferably the right side.

    Sources: Sahih al-Bukhari 1117; The prayer of the sick (islamweb); The prayer of a sick person unable to stand or sit (islamweb fatwa 93743)

  4. As far as you are able

    If you cannot pray on your side, pray lying on your back.

    Where the schools differ

    Abu Hanifa and Malik say the feet are toward the qiblah; ash-Shafi'i says one lies on the side, face toward the qiblah, to avoid stretching the feet toward it. islamweb's fatwa says one lying on his back puts his feet toward the qiblah.

    Sources: The prayer of the sick (islamweb); The prayer of a sick person unable to stand or sit (islamweb fatwa 93743)

Details

  1. Details

    If you cannot bow or prostrate, make a gesture for each, the prostration lower than the bowing; bring your face as near the ground as you can. If you cannot gesture with the head, intention and words are enough.

    Where the schools differ

    One who can stand and sit but cannot bow or prostrate prays standing and gestures for the bowing, then sits and gestures for the prostration, for the majority; Abu Hanifa says he prays sitting.

    Sources: The prayer of the sick (islamweb); The prayer of a sick person unable to stand or sit (islamweb fatwa 93743)

  2. Details

    If, during the prayer, you become able to do what you could not, move to it.

    Where the schools differ

    For the majority you build on what you have already prayed; the Hanafis say you begin the prayer again.

    Sources: The prayer of the sick (islamweb)

  3. Details

    If praying each prayer in its time is too hard, you may join dhuhr with 'asr and maghrib with 'isha, before or after; fajr is never joined.

    Sources: The prayer of the sick (islamweb)

  4. Details

    Purify yourself with water, with someone's help if needed, even for a fee; if you cannot, make tayammum; if you cannot do that either, pray as you are.

    Sources: The prayer of a sick person unable to stand or sit (islamweb fatwa 93743)

Evidence

Sahih

Sahih al-Bukhari 1117

Grades
GraderVerdict
al-BukhariSahih (included by al-Bukhari in his Sahih) (Sahih)
Full narration

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدَانُ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ طَهْمَانَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي الْحُسَيْنُ الْمُكْتِبُ، عَنِ ابْنِ بُرَيْدَةَ، عَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ حُصَيْنٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ كَانَتْ بِي بَوَاسِيرُ فَسَأَلْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنِ الصَّلاَةِ فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ صَلِّ قَائِمًا، فَإِنْ لَمْ تَسْتَطِعْ فَقَاعِدًا، فَإِنْ لَمْ تَسْتَطِعْ فَعَلَى جَنْبٍ ‏"‏‏.‏

Narrated `Imran bin Husain: I had piles, so I asked the Prophet (ﷺ) about the prayer. He said, "Pray while standing and if you can't, pray while sitting and if you cannot do even that, then pray Lying on your side

View on sunnah.com
QuranAt-Taghaabun (Mutual Disillusion)Quran 64:16

فَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا ٱسْتَطَعْتُمْ وَٱسْمَعُوا۟ وَأَطِيعُوا۟ وَأَنفِقُوا۟ خَيْرًا لِّأَنفُسِكُمْ ۗ وَمَن يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفْسِهِۦ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ ١٦

So fear Allāh as much as you are able and listen and obey and spend [in the way of Allāh]; it is better for your selves. And whoever is protected from the stinginess of his soul - it is those who will be the successful.

Saheeh International · QuranEnc v1.1.2

Another translation: Al-Hilali & Muhsin Khan · QuranEnc v1.1.2

16. So keep your duty to Allâh and fear Him as much as you can; listen and obey, and spend in charity; that is better for yourselves. And whosoever is saved from his own covetousness, then they are the successful ones.

Read in context on Quran.com
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