A person who can stand for prayer but cannot prostrate: how should he pray?
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The questioner : The person who prays can stand but cannot prostrate, meaning he can bow but cannot prostrate because he has a problem with his knee. So does he stand on a chair and then prostrate on the chair?
The Shaykh : As long as he can stand, he prays standing.
The questioner : Good, he prays standing.
The Shaykh : Then he bows and prostrates by nodding his head, making his prostration lower than his bowing.
The questioner : Except for standing, there is no operation of prostrating on a chair.
The Shaykh : There is no operation of what?
The questioner : There is no, meaning, sitting on a chair or that he
The Shaykh : ... what benefit is there in sitting? He did not achieve standing, did not achieve bowing, did not achieve prostration. But nodding in bowing and prostration is a matter established in the Sunnah, whereas dropping standing has no existence at all. And this is the rule:[At-Taghabun 64:16] So he can stand, so he does not sit. He can bow, so he bows. He cannot prostrate, so he does not prostrate, but he distinguishes between bowing and prostration by making one lower than the other.
The questioner : Meaning, in this case, he nods while bowing, meaning, or he stands, meaning, he is able to stand, he completes his bowing, he stands upright, and he nods with his head.
The Shaykh : Of course, this is necessary. The issue of raising his head in bowing is necessary, but when he wants to prostrate and he cannot prostrate, he wants to make his prostration, while he is not prostrating, meaning, not placing his forehead on the ground, because he cannot, as is the case, so he makes his lowering, let us call it, lower than his bowing, and that is his prostration.
The questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : ... Many of the people who pray do not know how to bow. You will find, without offense, that their buttocks are higher than their heads, you know how? And as you know, his head should be level with his back, exactly. So this person who cannot prostrate, he prostrates by making his prostration lower than his lawful bowing, just like that.
The questioner : In the form of bowing, meaning.
The Shaykh : There is no option other than this.
Abu Malik: Our Shaykh, may Allah bless you. A question, and it may be beneficial for everyone. Many people
The Shaykh : Excuse me, is there anything remaining regarding the previous question?
The questioner : No, no.
The Shaykh : Allow me a note. Something just came to my mind. He is able to sit,
The questioner : No, of course, he is not able to sit.
The Shaykh : Did I want to say that regarding the one who is able to sit but cannot prostrate, he sits and leans forward, you understand how? That is what I wanted to say. Please, Abu Malik.
The Shaykh : As long as he can stand, he prays standing.
The questioner : Good, he prays standing.
The Shaykh : Then he bows and prostrates by nodding his head, making his prostration lower than his bowing.
The questioner : Except for standing, there is no operation of prostrating on a chair.
The Shaykh : There is no operation of what?
The questioner : There is no, meaning, sitting on a chair or that he
The Shaykh : ... what benefit is there in sitting? He did not achieve standing, did not achieve bowing, did not achieve prostration. But nodding in bowing and prostration is a matter established in the Sunnah, whereas dropping standing has no existence at all. And this is the rule:
fear Allah as much as you are able
اتقوا الله ما استطعتمThe questioner : Meaning, in this case, he nods while bowing, meaning, or he stands, meaning, he is able to stand, he completes his bowing, he stands upright, and he nods with his head.
The Shaykh : Of course, this is necessary. The issue of raising his head in bowing is necessary, but when he wants to prostrate and he cannot prostrate, he wants to make his prostration, while he is not prostrating, meaning, not placing his forehead on the ground, because he cannot, as is the case, so he makes his lowering, let us call it, lower than his bowing, and that is his prostration.
The questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : ... Many of the people who pray do not know how to bow. You will find, without offense, that their buttocks are higher than their heads, you know how? And as you know, his head should be level with his back, exactly. So this person who cannot prostrate, he prostrates by making his prostration lower than his lawful bowing, just like that.
The questioner : In the form of bowing, meaning.
The Shaykh : There is no option other than this.
Abu Malik: Our Shaykh, may Allah bless you. A question, and it may be beneficial for everyone. Many people
The Shaykh : Excuse me, is there anything remaining regarding the previous question?
The questioner : No, no.
The Shaykh : Allow me a note. Something just came to my mind. He is able to sit,
The questioner : No, of course, he is not able to sit.
The Shaykh : Did I want to say that regarding the one who is able to sit but cannot prostrate, he sits and leans forward, you understand how? That is what I wanted to say. Please, Abu Malik.