How does a sick person perform wudu and pray, and does he shorten the four-rak'ah prayer or combine the two prayers?
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The questioner : His EminenceThe Shaykh : My father is in the hospital and he had surgery yesterday, so how does he perform wudu and how does he pray, considering that he is unable to perform wudu? And does he shorten the four-rak'ah prayer?
The Shaykh : If he is unable to perform wudu, he performs tayammum, based on the saying of Allah the Exalted:[An-Nisa 4:43] As for shortening the prayer, if he is a resident of the town, it is not permissible for him to shorten it, because shortening has only one reason, which is travel. If he is not a resident of the town, he may shorten it, and in fact, it is better for him to shorten it.
As for combining prayers, if it is difficult for him to pray each prayer at its time, he may combine them, whether he is a resident of the town or not. If it is not difficult for him, then if he is a resident of the town, it is not permissible for him to combine them, but if he is a traveler, it is permissible for him to combine them.
The Shaykh : If he is unable to perform wudu, he performs tayammum, based on the saying of Allah the Exalted:
And if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and find no water, then seek clean earth
وإن كنتم مرضى أو على سفر أو جاء أحد منكم من الغائط أو لامستم النساء فلم تجدوا ماء فتيممواAs for combining prayers, if it is difficult for him to pray each prayer at its time, he may combine them, whether he is a resident of the town or not. If it is not difficult for him, then if he is a resident of the town, it is not permissible for him to combine them, but if he is a traveler, it is permissible for him to combine them.