Whoever has some excuse due to illness and cannot stand during the fard
salah is allowed to pray sitting. If he cannot pray in a sitting
posture, he may pray while on his side by making gestures. In such a
case, his gestures for sajdah should be lower than those for his ruku'.
This principle is based on Allah's words: "...And celebrate Allah's
praises, standing, sitting, and lying on your sides."
'Imran ibn Hussain says: "I had piles [hemorrhoids], so I asked the
Prophet about the prayer and he said: 'Offer the salah while standing
and if you cannot do so, pray while sitting, and if you can't do that,
then make salah while Iying on your side."' This is related by the
group, except for Muslim. An-Nasa'i adds: "And if you cannot offer
salah while lying on your side, then do it while lying on your back.
Allah does not burden a soul, save with what it can bear."
Jabir reports: "The Messenger of Allah visited a sick person and
found him praying on a cushion. The Prophet pushed it aside and said:
"Pray on the ground if you can, and if you cannot, then pray by making
gestures, and make your sajdah lower than your ruku'.'" This is related
by alBaihaqi .
What is meant by inability is that the person if he prays [in the
regular way], will suffer hardship, or his disease will aggravate, or
his recovery would be hampered, or he will swoon if he prays in the
customary manner. One should sit cross-legged while praying in a
sitting position.
'Aishah narrates that she saw the Prophet sallallahu alehi wasallam
sitting cross-legged while praying. This is related by an-Nasa'i and
al-Hakim says it is sahih.: It is also permissible to sit in the manner
that one sits while performing the tashahud
One who can offer the salah neither sitting nor standing is to lie
down on his side, and if he cannot do that, he is to lie down on his
back with his legs toward the qiblah according to his state of health.
Ibn al-Munzhir prefers this opinion. On this point, there is a weak
hadith reported by 'Ali which states that the Prophet said: "The sick
person is to pray standing if he is able. If he cannot do so, he should
pray sitting. If he is not able to make the sajdah, he should nod with
his head and make the nod of his sajjud lower than that of his ruku'.
If he cannot pray in a sitting posture, he should pray while lying down
on his right side facing the qiblah. If one cannot pray on his right
side, he should pray while lying on his back with his legs stretched
out toward the qiblah." This is related by ad-Daraqutni. Some scholars
maintain that one can pray in whatever manner is easy for him. It is
apparent from the hadith that if one can only nod while lying on his
back, then nothing else is obligatory upon him.
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