How to pray on an airplane: obligatory or voluntary

The questioner : Yes. Peace be upon you.

The Shaykh : Peace be upon you.

The questioner : Honorable Shaykh, regarding praying on an airplane in the airplane seat, is it necessary for a person to be standing, or does he pray according to his condition?

The Shaykh : As for if it is voluntary, if the prayer is voluntary, let him pray as he is, in his seat.

The questioner : No, that is not acceptable.

The Shaykh : The bowing and prostration are strange.

The questioner : The obligatory prayer.

The Shaykh : For the obligatory prayer, if he is able to perform its pillars and obligations, there is no harm. As long as there is space in the airplane where a person can stand up, bow, prostrate, and face the qiblah, let him pray.

The questioner : And by Allah, regarding the airplane facing the qiblah, but he cannot [do so] in front of the seat; he is just sitting in the seat.

The Shaykh : It is possible, except if the time is tight.

The questioner : Yes, indeed, if the time is tight, this is the Fajr prayer.

The Shaykh : Pray according to your condition.

The questioner : Yes, by Allah, this is the Fajr prayer, and it will be missed for me.

The Shaykh : Yes, pray according to your condition, to the extent you are able. It is obligatory for you to stand up, it is obligatory for you to stand and recite and bow if you can, and if you want to prostrate, sit in the seat and perform the prostration.

The presenter : May Allah reward you with good.