Ruling on a disabled person performing the obligatory prayer in his home
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Q446: The questioner, E. M. from Jeddah, says: He was ill, and his condition worsened until he was admitted to a hospital, where the doctors decided to amputate his legs above the knee. His legs were indeed amputated, and he is now in good health. He asks about the ruling on leaving the obligatory prayer in the mosque and praying at home permanently, including the Friday prayer, which he does not perform in the mosque but at home. Is he sinful for doing so, or is he excused by the Shari'ah?
A446: It is well known that congregational prayer and the Friday prayer are obligatory for a capable Muslim who has no valid Shari'ah excuse preventing him from them. As for the one who has an excuse, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) granted him a dispensation to pray in his home. The questioner has had his legs amputated and is now a disabled person who cannot walk. Therefore, he is excused; he may pray in his home, and he is excused for leaving the congregation and the Friday prayer. If it is possible for him to be carried and attend the prayers without it being too difficult for him, that is a good thing, and he will gain additional reward and goodness. However, if he is unable to attend and there is no means by which he can be transported to the mosque, then he is excused, and his excuse is clear in this matter. If he maintains the prayers at their prescribed times, we hope for him reward and acceptance. If he has someone to pray with him in his home as a congregation, for example, if one of those who has a similar Shari'ah excuse joins him and they pray together, this achieves the purpose of the congregation. As for one who has no excuse, it is obligatory for him to go to the mosque and pray. Suppose there is someone who can take him to the mosque by a means, such as a car, for instance. Is it obligatory for him to attend the mosque? If this is the case, it is better, and striving for it is better whenever possible. I do not see that it is obligatory for him to do so; but if it happens, it is better and good. If he prays the prayers with the rest of his family, such as his wife and daughters, he also gets the reward of the congregation. There is nothing wrong with that, but he should be the imam. However, he is unable to stand in prayer, and he is not the imam of the neighborhood, so it cannot be said that they are praying behind him while sitting. It is not appropriate for those whose condition is not like his to pray with him. It is better for him to pray alone.
If it is possible for him to be carried and attend the prayers without it being too difficult for him, that is a good thing, and he will gain additional reward and goodness. However, if he is unable to attend and there is no means by which he can be transported to the mosque, then he is excused, and his excuse is clear in this matter. If he maintains the prayers at their prescribed times, we hope for him reward and acceptance. If he has someone to pray with him in his home as a congregation, for example, if one of those who has a similar Shari'ah excuse joins him and they pray together, this achieves the purpose of the congregation. As for one who has no excuse, it is obligatory for him to go to the mosque and pray. Suppose there is someone who can take him to the mosque by a means, such as a car, for instance. Is it obligatory for him to attend the mosque? If this is the case, it is better, and striving for it is better whenever possible. I do not see that it is obligatory for him to do so; but if it happens, it is better and good. If he prays the prayers with the rest of his family, such as his wife and daughters, he also gets the reward of the congregation. There is nothing wrong with that, but he should be the imam. However, he is unable to stand in prayer, and he is not the imam of the neighborhood, so it cannot be said that they are praying behind him while sitting. It is not appropriate for those whose condition is not like his to pray with him. It is better for him to pray alone.
A446: It is well known that congregational prayer and the Friday prayer are obligatory for a capable Muslim who has no valid Shari'ah excuse preventing him from them. As for the one who has an excuse, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) granted him a dispensation to pray in his home. The questioner has had his legs amputated and is now a disabled person who cannot walk. Therefore, he is excused; he may pray in his home, and he is excused for leaving the congregation and the Friday prayer. If it is possible for him to be carried and attend the prayers without it being too difficult for him, that is a good thing, and he will gain additional reward and goodness. However, if he is unable to attend and there is no means by which he can be transported to the mosque, then he is excused, and his excuse is clear in this matter. If he maintains the prayers at their prescribed times, we hope for him reward and acceptance. If he has someone to pray with him in his home as a congregation, for example, if one of those who has a similar Shari'ah excuse joins him and they pray together, this achieves the purpose of the congregation. As for one who has no excuse, it is obligatory for him to go to the mosque and pray. Suppose there is someone who can take him to the mosque by a means, such as a car, for instance. Is it obligatory for him to attend the mosque? If this is the case, it is better, and striving for it is better whenever possible. I do not see that it is obligatory for him to do so; but if it happens, it is better and good. If he prays the prayers with the rest of his family, such as his wife and daughters, he also gets the reward of the congregation. There is nothing wrong with that, but he should be the imam. However, he is unable to stand in prayer, and he is not the imam of the neighborhood, so it cannot be said that they are praying behind him while sitting. It is not appropriate for those whose condition is not like his to pray with him. It is better for him to pray alone.
If it is possible for him to be carried and attend the prayers without it being too difficult for him, that is a good thing, and he will gain additional reward and goodness. However, if he is unable to attend and there is no means by which he can be transported to the mosque, then he is excused, and his excuse is clear in this matter. If he maintains the prayers at their prescribed times, we hope for him reward and acceptance. If he has someone to pray with him in his home as a congregation, for example, if one of those who has a similar Shari'ah excuse joins him and they pray together, this achieves the purpose of the congregation. As for one who has no excuse, it is obligatory for him to go to the mosque and pray. Suppose there is someone who can take him to the mosque by a means, such as a car, for instance. Is it obligatory for him to attend the mosque? If this is the case, it is better, and striving for it is better whenever possible. I do not see that it is obligatory for him to do so; but if it happens, it is better and good. If he prays the prayers with the rest of his family, such as his wife and daughters, he also gets the reward of the congregation. There is nothing wrong with that, but he should be the imam. However, he is unable to stand in prayer, and he is not the imam of the neighborhood, so it cannot be said that they are praying behind him while sitting. It is not appropriate for those whose condition is not like his to pray with him. It is better for him to pray alone.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.