The manners and rulings of Salah for the sick.
Ulama Institute #1
Looking to learn Arabic or memorize the Quran?
Check our Trusted Teachers
Salah is a compulsory part of Islam. A Muslim has to pray five times every day. The importance of Salah has been emphasized in both the Qur’aan and the Sunnah. Its injunction applies to everybody. There are no exceptions to its obligatory nature except for an insane person, a child, and a menstruating woman.
In Soorat al-Baqarah, aayah number 233, Allah also informs us that no person is burdened beyond his/her capacity.
However, Allah ﷻ is the Most Compassionate and Most Merciful. He ﷻ has made worship practical for people who have certain needs, so that they may perform their worship according to their needs.
Allah ﷻ says in the Qur’aan:
يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُمُ ٱلْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ ٱلْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ (١٨٥)
“Allah ﷻ intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and glorify Allah for that to which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful” [Soorat al-Baqarah: 185]
A sick person is thus not excused from Salah. However, Allah through His infinite kindness and mercy has made certain allowances for him/her so that it is easier for him/her to perform Salah.
A sick person, who is unable to stand in prayer, may pray while sitting down. He/She will perform the rukoo’ from the sitting position, by placing the hands on the knees and simply bending forward. The sujood will also be performed from this position. If he/she is unable to go into sujood, he/she will bend forward as close as possible to the ground. If he/she cannot bend forward from his back for rukoo’ or sujood he/she will bend from his/her neck and if he/ she cannot do even this then a simple indication (even with the eyes) in the direction of the posture would suffice, and the intentions and words are enough.
If he/she is unable to pray in a sitting position, then he/she may pray while lying on one side. Here too the person will fulfill the different postures by slightly bending his/her back. If this is not possible then with his/her neck; and if this is not possible, then gesturing and words are sufficient. If one is incapable of praying while lying on one side, he/she can pray while lying on his/her back with the feet directed towards the Qiblah (the Ka’bah). The same rule for praying on one side would apply. The Prophet ﷺ told ‘Imraan ibn Husayn
فَقَالَ : ” صَلِّ قَائِمًا ، فَإِنْ لَمْ تَسْتَطِعْ فَقَاعِدًا ، فَإِنْ لَمْ تَسْتَطِعْ فَعَلَى جَنْبِ ” . (البخاري )
“Pray standing! If you are unable, then pray sitting! If you are unable, then pray on your side.” [Al-Bukharri]
Once again the infinite mercy and wisdom of Allah is reflected in the way allowances are made for the sick to perform Salah, taking the degree of their illness into consideration.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
” مَنْ نَسِيَ صَلَاةٌ فَيُصَلِّ إِذَا ذَكَرَهَا لَا كَفَّارَةَ لَهَا إِلَّا ذَلِكَ ” ( البخاري )
“Whoever has slept through the time for a prayer, or he has forgotten to pray, let him pray it whenever he remembers it, and there is no expiation for it except for this.” [Al-Bukhaan]
It is not permissible to leave prayer under any circumstances. It is incumbent upon adult Muslims to take care of their prayers while they are ill more so than when they are in good health. One has to pray on time as far as possible if one neglects even one prayer, while being sane and able to perform it, he/she is a sinner.
Many scholars say that if it is difficult to pray every Salah at its appropriate time, two prayers may be combined. Dhuhr and ‘Asr may be combined on one side and Maghrib and ‘Ishaa’ on the other. The prayers may also be combined early or late, whatever is easiest. It is only Fajr that cannot be combined with another prayer.
Allah ﷻ does not burden any soul beyond its capacity. The underlying feeling that comes forth is one of gratitude for the favors of Allah ﷻ .
