What is the ruling on a woman praying while sitting if she is suffering from pain in her foot, and is the reward for the prayer of the one who sits like that of the one who stands?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : What is the ruling on a woman praying while sitting if she is suffering from pain in her feet, and is the reward for the prayer of the one who sits like that of the one who stands?
The Shaykh : If a person, whether a woman or a man, suffers pain when praying standing and does not achieve the required khushu', he should pray sitting, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to 'Imran ibn Husayn:Sunan Abi Dawud 952Sahih (Al-Albani).
And based on the saying of Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) regarding the generality of this ruling:[At-Taghabun 64:16] and His saying: [Al-Baqarah 2:286].
And her prayer while sitting, if it is due to an excuse and it was her habit before being afflicted with this to pray standing, she receives the full reward, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih al-Bukhari 2996.
This applies to the obligatory prayer. As for the voluntary prayer, there is no harm in a person praying sitting even if he is able to stand, except that if he prays sitting while being able to stand, his reward is half the reward of the prayer of the one who stands.
The Shaykh : If a person, whether a woman or a man, suffers pain when praying standing and does not achieve the required khushu', he should pray sitting, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to 'Imran ibn Husayn:
offer prayer in standing condition; if you are unable to do so, then in sitting condition: if you are then at your side
صل قائماً فإن لم تستطع فقاعداً فإن لم تستطع فعلى جنبAnd based on the saying of Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) regarding the generality of this ruling:
So fear Allah as much as you are able
فاتقوا الله ما استطعتمAllah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity
لا يكلف الله نفساً إلا وسعهاAnd her prayer while sitting, if it is due to an excuse and it was her habit before being afflicted with this to pray standing, she receives the full reward, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
When a slave falls ill or travels, then he will get reward similar to that he gets for good deeds practiced at home when in good health.
إذا مرض العبد أو سافر كتب له ما كان يعمل صحيحاً مقيماًThis applies to the obligatory prayer. As for the voluntary prayer, there is no harm in a person praying sitting even if he is able to stand, except that if he prays sitting while being able to stand, his reward is half the reward of the prayer of the one who stands.