My mother passed away, and in her final days she did not pray because she was mostly in a state of ritual impurity, as she had no control over herself, and she would say
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The questioner : My mother passed away, and in her final days she did not pray because she was mostly in a state of ritual impurity, meaning that she had no control over herself. She would say that prayer requires ritual purity and that she had lost this condition. It is known that she was suffering from a severe illness, lying in bed for more than a month, and unable to move. Nevertheless, I advised her to pray because I knew its importance. Please inform us and advise us in this matter?
The Shaykh : I ask Allah the Exalted to overlook this woman for the negligence that occurred on her part. It is obligatory for the sick person to pray the prayer in its time, unless it is difficult for him, in which case he may combine the midday and afternoon prayers, or the sunset and night prayers. It is not permissible for him to delay the prayer beyond its time under any circumstances. If he has ritual impurity on him, on his clothes, or on his bed, and he is unable to remove it, he prays even while in the state of impurity. Likewise, if his state of minor or major ritual impurity is constant, meaning that urine, feces, or wind constantly exits him and he has no control over it, he prays even if something exits him. However, in this case, he does not perform the ablution for prayer until the time for it has entered.
Then, it is obligatory for him to pray standing. If he cannot, he prays sitting. If he cannot, he prays on his side. The matter is broad. As for the excuse this woman made, that prayer is not valid except with ritual purity, this is true: prayer is not valid except with ritual purity, but this applies in the case of ability. In the case of inability, Allah Blessed and Exalted said:[Al-Baqarah 2:286] And He the Exalted said: [Al-Baqarah 2:185] And He the Exalted said: [At-Taghabun 64:16].
Based on this, we say: what has become widespread among the common people from this statement the woman made, that she does not want to pray except in a state of purity, is a false claim with no basis in the Shari'ah or in the words of the scholars. It is obligatory for the sick person to pray according to his condition and to fulfill what Allah has made obligatory in his prayer to the best of his ability.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : I ask Allah the Exalted to overlook this woman for the negligence that occurred on her part. It is obligatory for the sick person to pray the prayer in its time, unless it is difficult for him, in which case he may combine the midday and afternoon prayers, or the sunset and night prayers. It is not permissible for him to delay the prayer beyond its time under any circumstances. If he has ritual impurity on him, on his clothes, or on his bed, and he is unable to remove it, he prays even while in the state of impurity. Likewise, if his state of minor or major ritual impurity is constant, meaning that urine, feces, or wind constantly exits him and he has no control over it, he prays even if something exits him. However, in this case, he does not perform the ablution for prayer until the time for it has entered.
Then, it is obligatory for him to pray standing. If he cannot, he prays sitting. If he cannot, he prays on his side. The matter is broad. As for the excuse this woman made, that prayer is not valid except with ritual purity, this is true: prayer is not valid except with ritual purity, but this applies in the case of ability. In the case of inability, Allah Blessed and Exalted said:
Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity
لا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَاAllah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship
يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَSo fear Allah as much as you are able
فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْBased on this, we say: what has become widespread among the common people from this statement the woman made, that she does not want to pray except in a state of purity, is a false claim with no basis in the Shari'ah or in the words of the scholars. It is obligatory for the sick person to pray according to his condition and to fulfill what Allah has made obligatory in his prayer to the best of his ability.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.