The prayer of one who is unable to perform it due to old age and does not know what to say in it

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The questioner:
The questioner says: What is the ruling on one who is unable to pray due to old age and says, “I do not know what to say in my prayer”? Is he excused? It is known that he used to not miss the prayer.

The Shaykh:
What?

The questioner:
He says: One who is unable to pray due to old age and says, “I do not know what to say in my prayer,” is he excused? It is known that he used to not miss the prayer?

The Shaykh:
As long as his mind is present, the prayer is not dropped from him, but he prays according to his condition. Allah the Exalted said:

So fear Allah as much as you are able

فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ

[At-Taghabun 64:16]

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

The sick person prays standing, and if he cannot, then sitting, and if he cannot, then on his side.

يصلي المريض قائما فإن لم يستطع فقاعدا، إن لم يستطع فعلى جنب.

And if he does not know anything of the Qur'an, he glorifies Allah, says Allahu Akbar, and then bows, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

If you know any Quran then recite it, if not then praise Allah

إن كان معك قرآن فاقرأ وإلا فاحمد الله

Jami` at-Tirmidhi 302

and he glorifies and says Allahu Akbar, then bow. So he does not abandon the prayer while his mind is present.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you.

Source تفسير الشيخ محمد بن عبدالوهاب، تفسير آيات من القرآن الكريم 19-07-1435هـ — alfawzan.live (57:46)

The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.

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