The Manner of Prayer for the Sick Person
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How does a sick person pray?
When a person falls ill, we tell him, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) told 'Umaran ibn al-Husayn: (Pray standing, and if you cannot, then sitting, and if you cannot, then on your side) He indicates with his head. As for indicating with the finger, I do not know of any scholar who said this, nor is there a Sunnah for it either.So it is play, meaning: The movement is disliked because it is not prescribed. As for moving the eye or indicating with the eye, some scholars have said this is permissible.He said: If he cannot do it with his head, he indicates with his eye, closing it slightly for the bowing and more for the prostration. As for the finger, since it has become widespread among the common people, the one who does it is ignorant and owes nothing, and he does not have to repeat the prayer. However, it is obligatory for students of knowledge, when something that is not prescribed becomes widespread among the common people, to devote their efforts to pointing it out. This is because the common people are seeking the truth, but they are ignorant. If these matters are left unaddressed, they will remain as they are. But if they are disseminated in gatherings, sermons, admonitions, and lectures, Allah will benefit people through them.
The questioner: Did one of those who used to pray with his finger ask?It was said to him: She makes up the prayer, but she does not know in which time?The Shaykh: In any case, the one who holds that ignorance is not an excuse is required to make up the prayer. However, we see an excuse in this, especially since it has become widespread among the common people and is not something unique to the one who did it.All the common people say: Pray with your finger.
When a person falls ill, we tell him, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) told 'Umaran ibn al-Husayn: (Pray standing, and if you cannot, then sitting, and if you cannot, then on your side) He indicates with his head. As for indicating with the finger, I do not know of any scholar who said this, nor is there a Sunnah for it either.So it is play, meaning: The movement is disliked because it is not prescribed. As for moving the eye or indicating with the eye, some scholars have said this is permissible.He said: If he cannot do it with his head, he indicates with his eye, closing it slightly for the bowing and more for the prostration. As for the finger, since it has become widespread among the common people, the one who does it is ignorant and owes nothing, and he does not have to repeat the prayer. However, it is obligatory for students of knowledge, when something that is not prescribed becomes widespread among the common people, to devote their efforts to pointing it out. This is because the common people are seeking the truth, but they are ignorant. If these matters are left unaddressed, they will remain as they are. But if they are disseminated in gatherings, sermons, admonitions, and lectures, Allah will benefit people through them.
The questioner: Did one of those who used to pray with his finger ask?It was said to him: She makes up the prayer, but she does not know in which time?The Shaykh: In any case, the one who holds that ignorance is not an excuse is required to make up the prayer. However, we see an excuse in this, especially since it has become widespread among the common people and is not something unique to the one who did it.All the common people say: Pray with your finger.