Prayer Modifications for Health

Prayer Modifications Due to Health Issues

• For individuals with medical conditions or old age that hinder normal prayer postures, accommodations are recommended.
• Sitting is permissible, whether on the ground or on a chair.
• Standing, bowing, prostrating, and sitting between prostrations are essential positions in prayer.

Adjustments When Unable to Stand

• If unable to stand due to knee or back problems, one can begin the prayer seated on a chair or the ground.
• Recite Al-Fatiha and other Quranic verses while seated.
• Lean forward while seated for bowing.
• Prostrate naturally using the seven body parts.
• Sit between the two prostrations, or for Tashahud, if able to prostrate and sit on the ground.
• If able to stand but unable to bow or prostrate, begin the prayer standing.
• Tilt the head slightly while standing in place of bowing.
• Sit on a chair and tilt the head for prostration.
• Repeat the head tilting for the second prostration.
• Perform what is possible and one is excused for what is not possible.

Bowing Modifications

• Begin the prayer standing.
• When bowing, bend as much as possible, try to touch the knees if it does not cause pain.
• If bending is not possible, tilt the head slightly while standing.
• Continue the prayer with prostration and sitting as usual.
• Hadith states to pray standing if able, sitting if unable, or lying on your side if necessary.
• Prostration should be lower than bowing when seated.
• Place hands on the knees during bowing and on the ground during prostration if possible.

Prostration (Sujud) Modifications

• If unable to prostrate due to knee problems or breathing difficulties, start the prayer standing.
• Recite while upright and bow as normal.
• Sit on a chair and nod the head slightly for prostration.
• If a skin condition or facial surgery prevents placing the face on the ground, use the remaining six body parts for prostration.
• Sitting on a chair is not permissible if able to prostrate.
• If able to prostrate but not stand or bow, pray sitting on the floor for a fuller prostration.
• When sitting on the floor, sit in the traditional Tashahud position, or cross-legged if that is difficult.

Sitting Posture Adjustments

• If able to stand, bow, and prostrate but unable to sit, perform the actions one is capable of.
• Sit as a half-sit on the knees or use a chair if easier.
• If unable to sit on the ground or a chair, perform the prayer standing.
• Nod for bowing and prostration while standing.
• Recite Tashahud while standing and complete the prayer with Taslim in the same position.
• A hadith mentions praying on the ground or gesturing if unable, and making prostration lower than bowing.

Additional Guidelines

• Offering an obligatory prayer sitting when able to stand invalidates the prayer.
• It is Sunnah to sit on the ground or a chair when unable to stand, bow, and prostrate due to sickness or old age.
• When praying on a chair from start to finish, ensure the seating place is level with the row.
• When standing and sitting on a chair only for bowing and prostrating, prioritize aligning with the row in the standing position.
• Standing is essential in obligatory prayers.
• Sitting is allowed for non-obligatory prayers, but it reduces the reward.
• Innovations like using specially designed tables for prostration have no basis in Islam.
• Praying obligatory prayers on a chair due to tiredness or fatigue is not a valid excuse.
• Worshippers should do what they are capable of, and sitting is only permissible if standing causes harm.