Salaah of a Sick Person

Q: Salaah-651: What is the ruling concerning the Qadhaa salaah of a sick person?

Answer: If a sick person cannot perform salaah standing, he may do so sitting down, performing the Ruku and Sajdah as well. If he is unable to perform Ruku and Sajdah, he may perform the Ruku while sitting and the Sajdah by indication. If he cannot perform salaah silting down , he may do so while lying down with the knees up or on the side with a pillow beneath the head. He may then perform the Ruku and Sajdah by indications of the head. However, if he is unable to perform the salaah by indications of the head, he should not perform salaah,l If he remains in this state for the duration of five (or less) salaahs and then recovers, it will be Waajib (compulsory) for him to perform Qadhaa of these salaahs, but if he passes away in this condition, neither will the Qadhaa be Waajib (compulsory), nor will it be necessary to bequest for Fidyah to be paid.

If he remains in this state (of inability) for six or more salaahs, salaah will be waived and no Qadhaa will also be necessary. The same applies to people who remain insane or unconscious for the duration of six or more salaahs' Salaah will be waived and neither Qadhaa nor Fidyah will be necessary.

Fatawa Rahimiyyah vol.2