As a religion of mercy, Islam ensures ease and comfort for those who are suffering. Certainly this is the case for the rulings Shari’ah has laid down for the Muslim who is severely ill and cannot perform salāh normally. What follows is a brief outline on the prayer of the ill person (salāh al-marīd), taken from alMukhtasar li’l Qudūrī, the classical Hanafī fiqh source.
When a person is ill, then he is allowed to read salāh in a manner that creates
ease for him. This is because Allāh ‘does not place a burden on a soul more than
it can carry’ (2: 286).
According to the extent of the illness, the rulings differ for the salāh;
• If the Muslim cannot stand, then he/she can sit and perform the salāh.
• If the Muslim cannot perform rukū and sajda, then he is permitted to read
through hand and tilting indications. When he does this, then he will tilt further
for the sajda than the rukū. He should not keep his head still and raise an object
up to his head.
• If the person cannot sit upright, then he is permitted to lie down and perform
salāh. The best method is to place a pillow under the head so it faces the qibla
(rather than the sky). Also, the knees should be bent upwards so that the feet do
not point directly at the qibla. He is permitted to lie on his (right) side whilst
facing qibla.
• If any of the above positions are not possible, then he is allowed to delay the
prayer until Allāh grants him good health. He should not read salāh with mere
indication (like with the eyes and eyebrows).
• If a Muslim is able to stand but cannot perform rukū and sajda, then he does not
have to stand and is thus allowed to read sitting with the tilting of the head.
• If a Muslim began the prayer standing and in good health, and then found it
difficult to complete (for example, back pains or cramps), then he can complete
the prayer in the sitting position or the lying position, depending on the severity
of the illness.
• In the opposite case (namely he was ill and during the salāh found that he can
now perform the rukū and sajda), then he should start the salāh afresh.
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