Share on Tumblr

She cannot stand, so may She sit?

Question:

There is a woman who is an invalid - she has a fracture and a slipped disc in her back, and a plaster cast has been placed on her back, so she cannot pray properly, standing as one normally does, and she prayed while sitting for a month, bowing slightly. Is her prayer correct, or not?
Answer:

Yes, her prayer is correct, since she is unable to stand; and standing is an obligation in the obligatory prayers when one is able to do so. So if she is unable to do so, because of the slipped disc in her back, she may pray sitting. If she is able to stand by holding onto a sick or by leaning against a wall, then she must pray standing. Based upon this, the previous prayers of this woman were correct, as she was unable to stand. The Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) said to Imran bin Husain: Pray standing, but if you are not able to, then sitting, and if you are unable to do this, then on your side. [1]
[1] Al-Bukhari no. 1117 and Ahmad 4:426.

Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-`Uthaymeen
Fatawa Islamiyah Vol. 2 Page 441

• THE CONDITIONS OF “LA ILAHA ILLA ALLAH
• Buying goods using debit cards
• Haadith Jibril
• Refutation upon the People of Innovation
• The Dajjaal shall be prevented from entering Makkah and Madeenah
• The Virtues of Muharram and Fasting on 'Ashura'
• Waving when giving salaams
• 'An Obligation Cannot Suffice Another Obligation'
• 'Bismillaah' or 'Bismillaah ar-Rahmaan ar-Raheem'?
• 'I am Flying'