Prayer of the Sick, the Unconcious, the Weak and the Infirm, the Elderly and Others

يُصَلِّي الْمَرِيضُ قَائِماً فَإِنْ لَمْ يَقْدِرْ عَلَى ذَلِكَ صَلَّى جَالِساً فَإِنْ لَمْ يَقْدِرْ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ جَالِساً صَلَّى مُسْتَلْقِياً يُكَبِّرُ ثُمَّ يَقْرَأُ[1] فَإِذَا أَرَادَ الرُّكُوعَ غَمَّضَ عَيْنَيْهِ ثُمَّ سَبَّحَ فَإِذَا سَبَّحَ فَتَحَ عَيْنَيْهِ فَيَكُونُ فَتْحُ عَيْنَيْهِ رَفْعَ رَأْسِهِ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ فَإِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَسْجُدَ غَمَّضَ عَيْنَيْهِ ثُمَّ سَبَّحَ فَإِذَا سَبَّحَ فَتَحَ عَيْنَي

Hadith.1033 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "The sick person should pray standing. If they are unable to do so, they should pray sitting. If they cannot pray sitting, they should pray lying down. They should say the Takbir, then recite. When they want to bow, they should close their eyes and then say the

نَعَمْ لَمْ يُكَلِّفْهُ اللَّهُ إِلَّا طَاقَتَهُ.

Hadith.1034 - It was asked about a sick person who is unable to sit—whether they can pray while lying down and placing something on their forehead. Imam (as) replied: "Yes, Allah (swt) has not burdened them beyond their capacity."

لَا بَأْسَ بِذَلِكَ.

Hadith.1035 - Samahat ibn Mehran asked about a man who has an eye condition (cataracts or similar) and undergoes a procedure to remove the issue, requiring him to lie on his back for many days—forty days, or possibly fewer or more. As a result, he can only perform his prayers by gestures due to his condition. The respo

وَ سَأَلَهُ بَزِيعٌ‌[5] الْمُؤَذِّنُ فَقَالَ لَهُ‌ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَقْدَحَ عَيْنِي‌[6] فَقَالَ‌ لِي افْعَلْ فَقُلْتُ إِنَّهُمْ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّهُ يُلْقَى عَلَى قَفَاهُ كَذَا وَ كَذَا يَوْماً لَا يُصَلِّي قَاعِداً قَالَ افْعَلْ‌[1].

Hadith.1036 - Bazi' the Muezzin asked Imam (as): "I intend to undergo a procedure on my eye." Imam (as) replied: "Do it." Bazi' then said: "But they claim that I will be made to lie on my back for several days and will not be able to perform prayer while sitting." Imam (as) replied: "Do it."

الْمَرِيضُ يُصَلِّي قَائِماً فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ صَلَّى جَالِساً فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ صَلَّى عَلَى جَنْبِهِ الْأَيْمَنِ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ صَلَّى عَلَى جَنْبِهِ الْأَيْسَرِ[2] فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعِ اسْتَلْقَى وَ أَوْمَأَ إِيمَاءً وَ جَعَلَ وَجْهَهُ نَحْوَ الْقِبْلَةِ وَ جَعَلَ سُجُودَهُ أَخْفَضَ مِنْ رُكُوعِهِ. وَ يَجُوزُ لِلْمَرِيضِ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ الْفَرِيضَةَ عَلَى الدَّابَّةِ يَسْتَقْبِلُ بِهِ الْقِبْلَة

Hadith.1037 - The Messenger of Allah (sw) said: "A sick person should pray standing, and if he cannot, he should pray sitting. If he cannot do that, he should pray on his right side. If he cannot do that, he should pray on his left side. If he cannot do even that, he should lie down, face the Qibla, and make gestures f

وَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ دَخَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص عَلَى رَجُلٍ مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ وَ قَدْ شَبَّكَتْهُ الرِّيحُ‌[4] فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ كَيْفَ أُصَلِّي‌[5] فَقَالَ إِنِ اسْتَطَعْتُمْ أَنْ تُجْلِسُوهُ فَأَجْلِسُوهُ وَ إِلَّا فَوَجِّهُوهُ إِلَى الْقِبْلَةِ وَ مُرُوهُ فَلْيُومِ بِرَأْسِهِ إِيمَاءً وَ يَجْعَلُ السُّجُودَ أَخْفَضَ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ وَ إِنْ كَانَ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يَقْرَأَ فَاقْرَءُوا عِنْ

Hadith.1038 - The Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) said: "The Messenger of Allah (sw) visited a man from the Ansar who was struck by a strong wind. The man asked: 'O’ Messenger of Allah (sw), how should I pray?' The Prophet (as) replied: 'If you are able to, seat him. If not, direct him towards the

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْمَرِيضِ كَيْفَ يَسْجُدُ فَقَالَ عَلَى خُمْرَةٍ أَوْ عَلَى مِرْوَحَةٍ[7] أَوْ عَلَى سِوَاكٍ يُرْفَعُ إِلَيْهِ‌ وَ هُوَ أَفْضَلُ مِنَ الْإِيمَاءِ إِنَّمَا كَرَّهَ مَنْ كَرَّهَ السُّجُودَ عَلَى الْمِرْوَحَةِ[1] مِنْ أَجْلِ الْأَوْثَانِ الَّتِي كَانَتْ تُعْبَدُ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ وَ إِنَّا لَمْ نَعْبُدْ غَيْرَ اللَّهِ قَطُّ فَاسْجُدُوا عَلَى الْمِرْوَحَةِ وَ عَلَى السِّوَاكِ وَ عَلَى عُودٍ.

Hadith.1039 - Umar ibn Udhaynah narrated from Zurarah from Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) that he asked about how a sick person should perform prostration (Sujood). Abu Ja'far said: "On a small mat (Khumrah), a fan (Miroohah), or a stick (Miswak) that is raised to them, and this is better than mere gesturing. The

لَا إِلَّا الصَّلَاةَ الَّتِي أَفَاقَ فِيهَا[2].

Hadith.1040 - The Halabi asked Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-about a sick person who faints. Does he need to make up the prayers he missed during his fainting? Imam (as) replied: "No, except for the prayer in which he regained consciousness”.

وَ كَتَبَ أَيُّوبُ بْنُ نُوحٍ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الثَّالِثِ ع‌ يَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ الْمُغْمَى عَلَيْهِ يَوْماً أَوْ أَكْثَرَ هَلْ يَقْضِي مَا فَاتَهُ مِنَ الصَّلَوَاتِ أَمْ لَا فَكَتَبَ لَا يَقْضِي الصَّوْمَ وَ لَا يَقْضِي الصَّلَاةَ.

Hadith.1041 - Ayoub ibn Noah wrote to Abu Al-Hasan al-Third (Imam Musa al-Kadhim) (as) asking whether a person who is unconscious for a day or more needs to make up the prayers (salat) they missed. The Imam wrote in response, "He does not have to make up the fasting (sawm) or the prayers (salat)."

«لاَ يَقْضِي اَلصَّوْمَ وَ لاَ اَلصَّلاَةَ وَ كُلُّ مَا غَلَبَ اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ فَاللَّهُ أَوْلَى بِالْعُذْرِ.

Hadith.1042 - Ali ibn Mahziyar asked about this issue, and Imam (as) replied: "He does not have to make up the fasting (sawm) or the prayers (salat), and everything that overwhelms a person due to God's will, God is more deserving of granting the excuse."

صَاحِبُ الْبَطَنِ الْغَالِبِ يَتَوَضَّأُ وَ يَبْنِي عَلَى صَلَاتِهِ‌[5].

Hadith.1043 - Muhammad ibn Muslim narrated from Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) that He said: "The person who has a frequent (or overpowering) stomach condition should perform ablution (wudu) and continue with their prayer (salat)."

وَ قَالَ مُرَازِمُ بْنُ حَكِيمٍ الْأَزْدِيُ‌[1] مَرِضْتُ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ لَمْ أَتَنَفَّلْ فِيهَا فَقُلْتُ ذَلِكَ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقَالَ لَيْسَ عَلَيْكَ قَضَاءٌ إِنَّ الْمَرِيضَ لَيْسَ كَالصَّحِيحِ كُلُّ مَا غَلَبَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ فَاللَّهُ أَوْلَى بِالْعُذْرِ[2].

Hadith.1044 - Murazim ibn Hakim al-Azdi said: "I was ill for four months and did not perform any voluntary prayers (nawafil) during that time. I mentioned this to Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as), Imam (as) said: 'There is no obligation upon you for making up those prayers. Indeed, the sick person is not like the

لَا بَأْسَ‌[3] وَ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَكُونُ فِي صَلَاةٍ فَرِيضَةٍ فَيَقُومُ فِي الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ الْأَوَّلَتَيْنِ هَلْ يَصْلُحُ لَهُ أَنْ يَتَنَاوَلَ جَانِبَ الْمَسْجِدِ فَيَنْهَضَ يَسْتَعِينُ بِهِ عَلَى الْقِيَامِ مِنْ غَيْرِ ضَعْفٍ وَ لَا عِلَّةٍ فَقَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ.

Hadith.1045 - Ali ibn Ja'far asked his brother Imam Musa ibn Jafar Al-Kadhim (as) on whether it is permissible for a man to lean against the wall of the mosque while he is praying, or to place his hand on the wall while standing, without any illness or condition?" He (as) replied: "There is no harm in that." He also as

وَ قَالَ حَمَّادُ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ‌[4] قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَدِ اشْتَدَّ عَلَيَّ الْقِيَامُ فِي الصَّلَاةِ فَقَالَ إِذَا أَرَدْتَ أَنْ تُدْرِكَ صَلَاةَ الْقَائِمِ فَاقْرَأْ وَ أَنْتَ جَالِسٌ‌[5] فَإِذَا بَقِيَ مِنَ‌ السُّورَةِ آيَتَانِ فَقُمْ وَ أَتِمَّ مَا بَقِيَ وَ ارْكَعْ وَ اسْجُدْ فَذَاكَ صَلَاةُ الْقَائِمِ.

Hadith.1046 - Hamad ibn Othman said: I said to Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as): 'The standing in prayer has become very difficult for me.' He (as) replied: 'When you want to catch the prayer of the one standing, recite while sitting. When there remain two verses of the surah, then stand up and complete the remain

لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ‌[1].

Hadith.1047 - Sahl ibn al-Yas'a asked Abu Al-Hasan al-Awwal (as) about a man who prays a voluntary prayer sitting while he does not have any illness, whether in travel or while at home. Imam (as) said: "There is no harm in that”.

وَ قَالَ أَبُو بَصِيرٍ قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع إِنَّا نَتَحَدَّثُ وَ نَقُولُ مَنْ صَلَّى وَ هُوَ جَالِسٌ مِنْ غَيْرِ عِلَّةٍ كَانَتْ صَلَاتُهُ رَكْعَتَيْنِ بِرَكْعَةٍ وَ سَجْدَتَيْنِ بِسَجْدَةٍ فَقَالَ لَيْسَ هُوَ هَكَذَا هِيَ تَامَّةٌ لَكُمْ‌[2].

Hadith.1048 - Abu Basir said: I said to Abu Ja'far (as), "We talk and say that whoever prays while sitting without any illness, his prayer consists of two rak'ahs in place of one, and two prostrations in place of one." Imam (as) said: "It is not as you say. It is complete for you."

كَانَ أَبِي ع إِذَا صَلَّى جَالِساً تَرَبَّعَ فَإِذَا رَكَعَ ثَنَى رِجْلَيْهِ.

"My father (as) when he prayed while sitting, he would sit cross-legged, and when he went into ruku' (bowing), he would fold his legs."

لَا بَأْسَ بِذَلِكَ‌[3].

Hadith.1050 - Muawiya ibn Maysara narrated from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as): "Can a person pray while sitting in the position of tawarruk (cross-legged) or with his legs spread out?" Imam (as) said: "There is no harm in that."

فِي الصَّلَاةِ فِي الْمَحْمِلِ صَلِّ مُتَرَبِّعاً وَ مَمْدُودَ الرِّجْلَيْنِ وَ كَيْفَ مَا أَمْكَنَكَ

Hadith.1051 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said regarding prayer in a carriage (mahmil), "Pray sitting cross-legged (tawarruk), with your legs extended, or in whatever manner is possible for you."

قُلْتُ‌ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع رَجُلٌ شَيْخٌ كَبِيرٌ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُ الْقِيَامَ إِلَى الْخَلَاءِ لِضَعْفِهِ وَ لَا يُمْكِنُهُ الرُّكُوعُ وَ السُّجُودُ فَقَالَ لِيُومِ بِرَأْسِهِ إِيمَاءً وَ إِنْ كَانَ لَهُ مَنْ يَرْفَعُ إِلَيْهِ الْخُمْرَةَ فَلْيَسْجُدْ فَإِنْ لَمْ يُمْكِنْهُ ذَلِكَ فَلْيُومِ بِرَأْسِهِ نَحْوَ الْقِبْلَةِ إِيمَاءً قُلْتُ فَالصِّيَامُ قَالَ إِذَا كَانَ فِي ذَلِكَ الْحَدِّ فَقَدْ وَضَعَ اللَّهُ عَنْه

Hadith.1052 - Ibrahim ibn Abi Ziyad al-Karkhi narrated: I asked Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) about an elderly man who could not stand up due to weakness and was unable to perform ruku‘ (bowing) or sujood (prostration). Imam (as) said: "He should perform his prayer with gestures (īmā’), directing his head towar

نَعَمْ.

Hadith.1053 - Abdullah ibn Sulayman asked Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) about a person who experiences nosebleed during prayer and is only able to stop it by sniffing. Is this permissible? Imam (as) said: "Yes."

وَ رَوَى بُكَيْرُ بْنُ أَعْيَنَ‌ أَنَّ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع رَأَى رَجُلًا رَعَفَ وَ هُوَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ وَ أَدْخَلَ يَدَهُ فِي أَنْفِهِ فَأَخْرَجَ دَماً فَأَشَارَ إِلَيْهِ بِيَدِهِ افْرُكْهُ بِيَدِكَ وَ صَلِ‌[2].

Hadith.1054 - Bukayr ibn Ayyan narrated that Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) saw a man who had a nosebleed during prayer. The man put his hand into his nose, took out blood, and the Imam gestured to him with his hand, saying, "Wipe it with your hand and continue praying."

يُومِئُ إِيمَاءً بِرَأْسِهِ عَنْ كُلِّ صَلَاةٍ[3].

Hadith.1055 - Layth al-Muradi asked Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) about a man who suffers from continuous nosebleeds from the time of the sun's zenith until nightfall. Imam (as) replied: "He should gesture with his head for each prayer."

إِنْ كَانَ الْمَاءُ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ أَوْ عَنْ شِمَالِهِ أَوْ عَنْ خَلْفِهِ فَلْيَغْسِلْهُ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَلْتَفِتَ وَ لْيَبْنِ عَلَى صَلَاتِهِ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَجِدِ الْمَاءَ حَتَّى يَلْتَفِتَ فَلْيُعِدِ الصَّلَاةَ قَالَ وَ الْقَيْ‌ءُ مِثْلُ ذَلِكَ‌[4].

Hadith.1056 - Umar ibn Uthayna reported from him (as) that he was asked about a man who experiences a nosebleed while in prayer and has already prayed part of it. Imam (as) replied: "If the blood is on his right, left, or behind him, he should wash it without turning and continue with his prayer. If he cannot find wate

وَ فِي رِوَايَةِ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْهُ ع‌ إِنْ تَكَلَّمْتَ أَوْ صَرَفْتَ وَجْهَكَ عَنِ الْقِبْلَةِ

Hadith.1057 - In the narration of Abu Basir from Imam (as), Imam (as) said: "If you speak or turn your face away from the qibla, then you should repeat the prayer."

وَ قَالَ لَهُ أَبُو بَصِيرٍ أَسْمَعُ الْعَطْسَةَ فَأَحْمَدُ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى وَ أُصَلِّي عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ص وَ أَنَا فِي الصَّلَاةِ قَالَ نَعَمْ وَ إِنْ كَانَ بَيْنَكَ وَ بَيْنَ صَاحِبِكَ الْيَمُّ.

Hadith.1058 - Abu Basir said to him: "I hear someone sneeze, and I praise Allah (swt) and send blessings upon the Prophet (sw) while I am in prayer." Imam (as) said: "Yes, even if there is a sea between you and your companion."

وَ قَالَ ع‌ الْأَعْمَى إِذَا صَلَّى لِغَيْرِ الْقِبْلَةِ فَإِنْ كَانَ فِي وَقْتٍ فَلْيُعِدْ وَ إِنْ كَانَ قَدْ مَضَى الْوَقْتُ فَلَا يُعِيدُ.

Hadith.1059 - Imam (as) said: "If a blind person prays facing the wrong direction, and if it is during the time of the prayer, then he should repeat it. But if the time has passed, he does not need to repeat it."

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع أَكُونُ فِي الصَّلَاةِ فَأَجِدُ غَمْزاً فِي بَطْنِي أَوْ أَزّاً أَوْ ضَرَبَاناً[1] فَقَالَ انْصَرِفْ وَ تَوَضَّأْ وَ ابْنِ عَلَى مَا مَضَى‌[2] مِنْ صَلَاتِكَ مَا لَمْ تَنْقُضِ الصَّلَاةَ بِالْكَلَامِ مُتَعَمِّداً فَإِنْ تَكَلَّمْتَ نَاسِياً فَلَا شَيْ‌ءَ عَلَيْكَ وَ هُوَ بِمَنْزِلَةِ مَنْ تَكَلَّمَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ نَاسِياً قُلْتُ وَ إِنْ قَلَبَ وَجْهَهُ عَنِ الْقِبْلَةِ قَالَ نَعَمْ وَ إِنْ ق

Hadith.1060 - It is narrated from al-Fudayl ibn Yasar that He said: "I said to Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as): 'I am praying and I feel a pain in my stomach, or a rumbling, or a sensation of something moving.' Imam (as) said: 'Turn away (from prayer) and perform ablution, and then continue the prayer you have alre

إِنِ احْتَمَلَ الصَّبْرَ وَ لَمْ يَخَفْ إِعْجَالًا عَنِ الصَّلَاةِ فَلْيُصَلِّ وَ لْيَصْبِرْ.

Hadith.1061 - Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Hajjaj asked Abu al-Hasan (as) about a man who feels discomfort in his stomach but is able to bear it. He asked whether the man should continue praying in that situation or not. Imam (as) replied: "If he can tolerate the pain and does not fear it causing him to rush the prayer, then h

لَا يَقْطَعُ التَّبَسُّمُ الصَّلَاةَ وَ يَقْطَعُهَا الْقَهْقَهَةُ وَ لَا تَنْقُضُ الْوُضُوءَ

Hadith.1062 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "Smiling does not invalidate the prayer, but loud laughter does. And smiling does not break the wudu (ablution)."