Answered by Shaykh Omar Subedar
Question:
Kindly advise whether one is required to stand during salah (ritual prayer) if they cannot prostrate (performsujud).
I am able to stand comfortably and do the bowing (ruku’). Sujud (prostration) is also not a problem but sitting in between the sujud is not possible as I have to bend my knees. Therefore, to avoid sitting between sujud I am forced to take a chair as an alternate. Kindly guide me on this matter.
Answer:
بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
May Allah restore your health and grant you ease and comfort. In the scenario that you have presented it would be recommended that you to perform your salah (ritual prayer) while being seated and substitute the ruku’ (bowing) and sujud (prostration) with motions by your head and upper body making the motion for sujud lower than the motion for ruku’.
The well known jurist, Imam Abu Bakr ibn Mas’ud Al-Kasani (may Allah have mercy on him) has written,
“If a person is able to stand but unable to perform ruku’ and sujud they will pray with motions while being seated. If they pray with motions while standing, it will be sufficient however it is not preferable [to do as such].”
He writes further on,
“Sujud (prostration) is the foundational practice [of salah – ritual prayer] while the remaining postures are connected to it. It is for this reason that sujud without standing is [religiously] relevant such as the prostration of recital [sujud al tilawah] however standing is of no [religious] relevance without sujud. Rather it has not even been legislated without it. Hence when the foundational [practice is dropped] then the practices connected to it are also dropped out of necessity. It is for this reason that ruku’ is dropped [i.e. excused] from a person who is excused from sujud, even if they are able to perform ruku’. Ruku’ holds the position of being connected to sujud.” (See: Badai’ Al Sanai’)
And Allah Knows Best.
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