On the night of the twenty-seventh, the crowd in the Sacred Mosque was intense, but I was able to pray, although I could not bow or prostrate. What is the ruling?
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The questioner : He says in his question: On the night of the twenty-seventh, the crowd in the Sacred Mosque increased, but I was able to pray, although I could not bow or prostrate. What is the ruling? Please inform us. May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Yes, if the crowd in the mosque becomes intense and a person is unable to bow or prostrate, then Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) gave His servants a rule, saying:[At-Taghabun 64:16] And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih al-Bukhari 7288. This man, the questioner, says that he is unable to bow. What should he do?
He does what is a substitute for it, which is indicating with the head. If he is unable to prostrate, he likewise does the indication. This is the stronger opinion.
Some scholars said: Rather, he should wait until the people stand up, then he bows and prostrates. And while this achieves the bowing and prostration, it involves falling behind the imam.
Some scholars said: Rather, he should prostrate on the back of the person in front of him. And while this achieves the bowing and prostration and following the imam, it involves interfering with another person and disturbing him. How can you make a person's back a place of prayer for you? And a person, if you do this to him, may be greatly disturbed. Then there may be fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) in the matter. The person in front may be one whose desire Satan stirs if he prostrates on his back. So, how many opinions are there, then?
The student: Three.
The Shaykh : There are three opinions: one is that he waits until the people stand up, then he bows and prostrates; another is that he bows and prostrates by indicating with the head; and the third is that he prostrates on the back of the person in front of him. And this last one is the weakest of them.
The stronger opinion in my view is the second one, which is indicating with the head, because it falls under the generality of the saying of Allah the Exalted:[At-Taghabun 64:16] and the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Sahih al-Bukhari 7288.
The Shaykh : Yes, if the crowd in the mosque becomes intense and a person is unable to bow or prostrate, then Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) gave His servants a rule, saying:
So fear Allah as much as you are able
فاتقوا الله ما استطعتمAnd if I order you to do something, then do of it as much as you can.
إذا أمرتكم بأمر فأتوا منه ما استطعتمHe does what is a substitute for it, which is indicating with the head. If he is unable to prostrate, he likewise does the indication. This is the stronger opinion.
Some scholars said: Rather, he should wait until the people stand up, then he bows and prostrates. And while this achieves the bowing and prostration, it involves falling behind the imam.
Some scholars said: Rather, he should prostrate on the back of the person in front of him. And while this achieves the bowing and prostration and following the imam, it involves interfering with another person and disturbing him. How can you make a person's back a place of prayer for you? And a person, if you do this to him, may be greatly disturbed. Then there may be fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) in the matter. The person in front may be one whose desire Satan stirs if he prostrates on his back. So, how many opinions are there, then?
The student: Three.
The Shaykh : There are three opinions: one is that he waits until the people stand up, then he bows and prostrates; another is that he bows and prostrates by indicating with the head; and the third is that he prostrates on the back of the person in front of him. And this last one is the weakest of them.
The stronger opinion in my view is the second one, which is indicating with the head, because it falls under the generality of the saying of Allah the Exalted: