What does one do if he is unable to bow due to back pain?

Question:
A listener who referred to himself by the initials (B. J.) asks and says: I suffer from back pain that prevents me from bowing in prayer, but, praise be to Allah, I perform all the pillars of prayer. What is your guidance?
May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
Allah the Exalted says: [Al-Taghābun: 16]. So if you are unable to bow, bow according to your ability; lower your head and back slightly according to your ability, and there is no harm or blame. If you cannot do that, say the takbir and intend to bow with the imam. In voluntary prayers, while you are standing [Al-Taghābun: 16].
And so it is with prostration: one who is unable to prostrate prostrates in the air, lowering his head slightly according to his ability, and says: Subhan Rabbi al-A'la, Subhan Rabbi al-A'la [Al-Taghābun: 16], then he raises his head.
The point is: he does what the praying person does, but without prostrating or bowing, according to his ability. If he is unable to bow, he says the takbir for bowing and says: Subhan Rabbi al-Azim, Subhan Rabbi al-Azim. Then he says: Sami' Allahu li man hamidah, if he is praying alone. If he is with the imam, when the imam raises his head, he raises his and says: Rabbana wa laka al-hamd.
And so it is with prostration: if he is unable, he says the takbir intending to prostrate, lowers his head and back according to his ability, and says: Subhan Rabbi al-A'la, Subhan Rabbi al-A'la, and supplicates to his Lord. Then he raises his head and says the takbir, Allahu Akbar, if he is alone. If he is with the imam, when the imam raises his head and says the takbir, he raises his and says the takbir [Al-Taghābun: 16]. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: This is general.
Similarly, regarding fasting: one who is unable to fast, whether due to old age or an illness that is not expected to be cured, breaks his fast and feeds a poor person for each day, half a sa' (a dry measure of about 3 kg), which is one and a half kilograms for each day. This applies if he is an old man, or an old woman who is unable to fast, or a person suffering from an illness that is not expected to be cured, as certified by a specialist doctor. In this case, fasting is not obligatory for him, and he owes nothing for fasting. He feeds a poor person half a sa' for each day, which is approximately one and a half kilograms. He gives it to some of the poor, or he collects it all and gives it to some of the poor, or even to one poor person alone for the entire month.
As for one who is able to make up the fasts, if he falls ill, he breaks his fast and then makes them up afterwards. Similarly, a traveler who travels and breaks his fast makes them up afterwards. This is because Allah the Exalted says: [Al-Baqarah: 184], meaning: a sick person who is able to make up the fasts. But if he is unable to make them up up due to old age, or an old woman who is unable to make them up due to her old age and cannot fast, she breaks her fast and feeds a poor person for each day. She collects them and gives them to some of the poor. The man does the same, giving to some of the poor. If he makes a poor person the one with whom he breaks his fast every day, because he is unable to fast, he breaks his fast with him every day. The objective is achieved; he dines with him every day, so there is no harm. But if he gives him the food, that is sufficient, and praise be to Allah. Yes.

The presenter: May Allah reward you with good, and may He do you good.