Paying Fidya Rather than Performing the Sajdah Tilaawah

Q: Salaah-602: A Haafidh Sahib used to travel to and from Bombay about fifteen to twenty years ago. He was liable to perform approximately a hundred Sajdah Tilaawahs, but has now fallen so ill that he is unable to even walk or move about. He can therefore not perform so many Sajdahs. Will he be absolved of the obligation by paying Fidyah?

Answer: If the Sajdahs cannot be performed because of travelling by train, it must be made up when one alights. One needs to seek Allaah's forgiveness for delaying in this. Now that he is unable to perform the Sajdah Tilaawah, he may do so by indication as people perform the Sajdah of salaah i.e. he should bend over as far as he can. This will absolve him of the obligation and Fidyah would not. And Allaah knows best what is most correct.

Fatawa Rahimiyyah vol.2