Rulings on Prayer for the Sick
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This is a woman who passed away, but she did not perform some of the obligatory prayers, even though she was of sound mind, she was unable to stand or sit. They brought earth near her so she could perform dry ablution, but she was unable to do so. And even in the last part of the time, she would pray and increase the takbirs, even though she was of sound mind. So what is required of her? May Allah guide you.
There is nothing required of her now, meaning: It is not required that the prayers be made up on her behalf, but her children and relatives should increase in seeking forgiveness for her and making du'a for her.
On this occasion, I would like to point out an issue that some sick people resort to,We say first: The sick person must purify himself with water. If he is unable to do so, he purifies himself with earth. If he is unable to do that, he prays without earth or water, and he does not leave the prayer.
Second: He must pray standing. If he is unable to do so, he prays sitting. If he is unable to do that, he prays on his side. If he is unable to do that, he prays by gesturing. If he is unable to do that, he intends it in his heart and does not leave the prayer.
Third: Some people, when there is impurity in their clothes and they are unable to wash it,And he is unable to change the clothes, he says: No, I will not pray until Allah heals me and I purify my garment. This is also a mistake. Rather, one should pray even if his garment is impure, or even if his body is impure and he is unable to remove the impurity; he should pray according to his circumstances. This is because prayer has a limited time in which it must be performed according to a person's ability, as Allah the Exalted said: [al-Taghābun: 16] I hope that this is known to you, and that you point it out in gatherings; because most people are ignorant of this matter. Likewise, when you visit the sick, ask them how they pray? How do they purify themselves? And direct them to what is obligatory. This is because a person is accountable for the knowledge that Allah has given him, as Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Imran: 187] And do not say: "Where is the covenant?"We find scholars and they do not say: Indeed, Allah took a covenant from them,Meaning: they are not aware of this,But they say: the mere giving of knowledge by Allah to a person is a covenant. If Allah gives you knowledge, this means the covenant is to make it clear to the people. And this is among Allah's blessings upon the servant, that He makes him a place for knowledge and an heir to the message;Because Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, said: [Al-An'am: 124] And He is the One who knows best where He places the inheritance of this message, so whoever Allah knows has good in him, He gives him understanding in his religion, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: (Whoever Allah wishes good for, He gives him understanding in the religion) So my advice to myself and to you is to be eager to spread knowledge among the people, and do not belittle anything. If you teach a person one issue and he acts upon it, and then he teaches another, and another, and another, then all the reward obtained from the action that you guided the people to is for you.
There is nothing required of her now, meaning: It is not required that the prayers be made up on her behalf, but her children and relatives should increase in seeking forgiveness for her and making du'a for her.
On this occasion, I would like to point out an issue that some sick people resort to,We say first: The sick person must purify himself with water. If he is unable to do so, he purifies himself with earth. If he is unable to do that, he prays without earth or water, and he does not leave the prayer.
Second: He must pray standing. If he is unable to do so, he prays sitting. If he is unable to do that, he prays on his side. If he is unable to do that, he prays by gesturing. If he is unable to do that, he intends it in his heart and does not leave the prayer.
Third: Some people, when there is impurity in their clothes and they are unable to wash it,And he is unable to change the clothes, he says: No, I will not pray until Allah heals me and I purify my garment. This is also a mistake. Rather, one should pray even if his garment is impure, or even if his body is impure and he is unable to remove the impurity; he should pray according to his circumstances. This is because prayer has a limited time in which it must be performed according to a person's ability, as Allah the Exalted said:
