A man who is lame and cannot pray standing except by leaning on a wall or something similar: should he pray standing or sitting?
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The questioner : A man who is lame and is unable to pray standing unless he is leaning on something like a wall or a cane: should he pray standing or sitting in this case? If this man stands in the first rak'ah with the support of a wall or a cane or the like, and is unable to stand for the second rak'ah except with the help of the person praying next to him or his cane, is he obligated to stand in the prayer other than in the first rak'ah, or is it permissible for him to pray sitting in them? Is it permissible for such a person to pray his entire prayer sitting, or not? And how do we determine the hardship that permits a man to pray sitting?
The Shaykh : The answer to this question is based on what is known of the great, authentic legal principle in this Shari'ah, which is: ease, leniency, and simplicity, based on the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Baqarah 2:286] and His saying: [At-Taghabun 64:16] and the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Sahih al-Bukhari 7288 Standing in the prayer is obligatory in the obligatory prayer, not in the voluntary prayer. And if it is obligatory, a person must do it as much as he is able. It is established in the two Sahihs from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said to 'Imran ibn Husayn: Sunan Abi Dawud 952Sahih (Al-Albani) Likewise, in the second rak'ah, it is obligatory for you to pray standing, even if you are leaning on the cane when standing, because that is within your ability. And likewise in the rak'ahs after the second, if the prayer is more than two.
As for the degree that permits a man to pray sitting, it is hardship, such as: becoming so tired that his khushu' (humility) and presence of heart are lost if he prays standing, or such as having dizziness when he stands, where he becomes dizzy and falls, or the like of that. In that case, he is excused and it is permissible for him to pray sitting. And if he prays sitting, he should be in the position of mutarabb'i' (sitting on his heels) in the state of standing and in the state of bowing, and he should indicate the bowing with his head. And when he prostrates, he should prostrate on the ground and sit between the two prostrations and in the tashahhud as he usually sits. But in the state of standing, I mean sitting in the state of standing or in the state of bowing, he should be in the position of mutarabb'i'. If he is not able to be in the position of mutarabb'i', he prays according to his condition.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : The answer to this question is based on what is known of the great, authentic legal principle in this Shari'ah, which is: ease, leniency, and simplicity, based on the saying of Allah the Exalted:
Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity
لا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَاSo fear Allah as much as you are able
فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْAnd if I order you to do something, then do of it as much as you can.
إذا أمرتكم بأمر فأتوا منه ما استطعتمoffer prayer in standing condition; if you are unable to do so, then in sitting condition: if you are then at your side
صلِّ قائماً، فإن لم تستطع فقاعداً، فإن لم تستطع فعلى جنبAs for the degree that permits a man to pray sitting, it is hardship, such as: becoming so tired that his khushu' (humility) and presence of heart are lost if he prays standing, or such as having dizziness when he stands, where he becomes dizzy and falls, or the like of that. In that case, he is excused and it is permissible for him to pray sitting. And if he prays sitting, he should be in the position of mutarabb'i' (sitting on his heels) in the state of standing and in the state of bowing, and he should indicate the bowing with his head. And when he prostrates, he should prostrate on the ground and sit between the two prostrations and in the tashahhud as he usually sits. But in the state of standing, I mean sitting in the state of standing or in the state of bowing, he should be in the position of mutarabb'i'. If he is not able to be in the position of mutarabb'i', he prays according to his condition.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.