Ruling on abandoning prayer due to advanced age
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This is a message that reached us from the sender, Hajj Jawdah al-Sayyid al-Khazami, an Egyptian national residing in Makkah al-Mukarramah. He says: I have a grandmother who is one hundred years old or more. She used to pray and fulfill her rights of Allah in the best manner, through fasting and prayer. However, when she reached old age, she abandoned prayer on the excuse of her advanced age. It is known that her weight is heavy, and she asked me to drop the prayer for her. Is that permissible?
Answer: It is necessary to look into her situation. If her mind is with her and her intellect has not changed, then prayer is obligatory, and prayer is not dropped from her. It is not for you or anyone else to drop the prayer from her. This is a matter belonging to Allah, not a right for people. So she must pray. If she is unable and heavy, almost like a sick person, and it is difficult for her to perform the acts, she should combine the Dhuhr and Asr prayers, and the Maghrib and Isha' prayers, like other sick people. However, if she is able to pray each prayer in its time, then it is obligatory for her to do so, like other Muslims. Advanced age does not prevent her from that if she is in good health. So she must pray Dhuhr in its time, Asr in its time, Maghrib in its time, Isha' in its time, and Fajr in its time. But if her condition becomes severe due to her heaviness, advanced age, and weakness, it is permissible for her to combine Dhuhr and Asr, and Maghrib and Isha', like sick people. As for abandoning prayer, it is not permissible. It is obligatory for her to pray, to seek help from Allah, to watch over her relationship with Allah and fear Him, especially at this age when the end is near. So it is obligatory for her to prepare the good provision for meeting her Lord. She must not be lax with prayer, neither at night nor during the day. But she should fear Allah as much as she is able. If she is able to stand, she prays standing. If she is unable to stand, she prays sitting [Surat al-Taghabun:16]. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to the sick person: Sunan Abi Dawud 952Sahih (Al-Albani) So if she is unable to pray standing, she prays while sitting. We ask Allah to help her with good. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you.
Answer: It is necessary to look into her situation. If her mind is with her and her intellect has not changed, then prayer is obligatory, and prayer is not dropped from her. It is not for you or anyone else to drop the prayer from her. This is a matter belonging to Allah, not a right for people. So she must pray. If she is unable and heavy, almost like a sick person, and it is difficult for her to perform the acts, she should combine the Dhuhr and Asr prayers, and the Maghrib and Isha' prayers, like other sick people. However, if she is able to pray each prayer in its time, then it is obligatory for her to do so, like other Muslims. Advanced age does not prevent her from that if she is in good health. So she must pray Dhuhr in its time, Asr in its time, Maghrib in its time, Isha' in its time, and Fajr in its time. But if her condition becomes severe due to her heaviness, advanced age, and weakness, it is permissible for her to combine Dhuhr and Asr, and Maghrib and Isha', like sick people. As for abandoning prayer, it is not permissible. It is obligatory for her to pray, to seek help from Allah, to watch over her relationship with Allah and fear Him, especially at this age when the end is near. So it is obligatory for her to prepare the good provision for meeting her Lord. She must not be lax with prayer, neither at night nor during the day. But she should fear Allah as much as she is able. If she is able to stand, she prays standing. If she is unable to stand, she prays sitting
So fear Allah as much as you are able
فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْoffer 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 جنب، فإن لم تستطع فمستلقياًThe presenter: May Allah reward you.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.