Salah (Prayer) on a Ship

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يُسْأَلُ عَنِ الصَّلَاةِ فِي السَّفِينَةِ فَيَقُولُ إِنِ اسْتَطَعْتُمْ أَنْ تَخْرُجُوا إِلَى الْجَدَدِ[3] فَاخْرُجُوا فَإِنْ لَمْ تَقْدِرُوا فَصَلُّوا قِيَاماً فَإِنْ لَمْ تَسْتَطِيعُوا فَصَلُّوا قُعُوداً وَ تَحَرَّوُا الْقِبْلَةَ.

“I once heard abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), being asked about Salah (prayer) in the ship. He (the Imam) said, ‘If you can come out to hard ground, you must do so; but if you cannot do so, then perform Salah (prayer) standing, if you cannot do so, then perform Salah (prayer) while sitting and try to make it toward al-Qiblah (a

يَسْتَقْبِلُ‌ الْقِبْلَةَ فَإِذَا دَارَتْ وَ اسْتَطَاعَ أَنْ يَتَوَجَّهَ إِلَى الْقِبْلَةِ فَلْيَفْعَلْ وَ إِلَّا فَلْيُصَلِّ حَيْثُ تَوَجَّهَتْ بِهِ قَالَ فَإِنْ أَمْكَنَهُ الْقِيَامُ فَلْيُصَلِّ قَائِماً وَ إِلَّا فَلْيَقْعُدْ ثُمَّ لْيُصَلِّ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about performing Salah (prayer) in ships. He (the Imam) said, ‘One must face al-Qiblah (al-Ka‘bah) and when it makes a turn, if one is able to face al- Qiblah (al-Ka‘bah) one must do so, otherwise, it is whichever direction it faces.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If one can perform in a standi

يَتَحَرَّى‌[1] فَإِنْ لَمْ يَدْرِ صَلَّى نَحْوَ رَأْسِهَا.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who is in a ship and does not know the direction of al-Qiblah (al-Ka‘bah). He (the Imam) said, ‘He must make an effort to find the direction al-Qiblah (al-Ka‘bah) and if he cannot find it, performs Salah (prayer) facing toward where its head is.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الصَّلَاةِ فِي السَّفِينَةِ فَقَالَ إِذَا كَانَتْ مُحَمَّلَةً ثَقِيلَةً إِذَا قُمْتَ فِيهَا لَمْ تَحَرَّكْ فَصَلِّ قَائِماً وَ إِنْ كَانَتْ خَفِيفَةً تَكَفَّأُ[2] فَصَلِّ قَاعِداً.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of Salah (prayer) in the ship. He (the Imam) said, ‘If it is heavily loaded and when you stand up it does not shake, perform Salah (prayer) in a standing position, but if it is light that can turn upside down, then perform Salah (prayer) in a sitting position.’”

كُنْتُ مَعَ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع فِي السَّفِينَةِ فِي دِجْلَةَ فَحَضَرَتِ الصَّلَاةُ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ نُصَلِّي فِي جَمَاعَةٍ قَالَ فَقَالَ لَا تُصَلِّ فِي بَطْنِ وَادٍ جَمَاعَةً[3].

“One abu al-Hassan (a.s.), and I were in a ship on the Tigris. It became time for Salah (prayer) and I said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, can we perform Salah (prayer) in congregation? He (the Imam) said, ‘No, we perform Salah (prayer) in the valley in congregation.’”