Ruling on performing the obligatory prayer on a chair for a valid religious excuse

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Q191: The questioner M. M. from the Arab Republic of Egypt says: My father complains of pain in his knee, and he prays sitting on a chair in his room, and he is unable to stand. Is it permissible for him to pray the obligatory prayer on a chair or not?
A191: There is no doubt that standing in the obligatory prayer is a pillar of it when one is able to do so, based on the saying of Allah the Exalted:

Maintain with care the [obligatory] prayers and [in particular] the middle prayer and stand before Allah, devoutly obedient.

حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلاَةِ الْوُسْطَى وَقُومُوا لِلَّهِ قَانِتِينَ

[Al-Baqarah 2:238]

, and based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):

offer prayer in standing condition; if you are unable to do so, then in sitting condition: if you are then at your side

صل قائمًا، فإن لم تستطع فقاعداً، فإن لم تستطع فعلى جنب

Sunan Abi Dawud 952Sahih (Al-Albani)

It is obligatory for the one praying the obligatory prayer to pray standing. As for if he is unable to do so due to illness,
he prays according to his condition, sitting or on his side; based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to the sick person:

offer prayer in standing condition; if you are unable to do so, then in sitting condition: if you are then at your side

صل قائمًا، فإن لم تستطع فقاعداً، فإن لم تستطع فعلى جنب

Sunan Abi Dawud 952Sahih (Al-Albani)

As for what your father did, which is that he prays sitting due to pain in his knee, if this pain prevents him from standing, or makes it difficult for him, then there is nothing wrong with him praying sitting. If this pain does not prevent him from standing, then the prayer is not valid except by standing; because it is a pillar of its pillars.

Source www.alifta.gov.sa

The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.

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