praying while sitting
What do the islamic scholars and muftis say about praying while sitting and making gestures in such a way that the bowing (ruku) and prostration (sujood) are done with the same amount of inclination? Is the prayer valid?
بسم اللہ الرحمٰن الرحیم
الجواب بعون المك الوھاب اللھم ھدایة الحق والصواب
According to Shari’ah, the prayer is not valid. When praying with gestures, it is mandatory to bow down more deeply in sujood than in ruku; otherwise, the prayer will not be valid.
It is stated in Al-Bahr al-Raiq Sharh Kanz al-Daqa’iq:
یلزمه جعل السجود اخفض من الرکوع حتی لو سواھما لایصح
Translation: It is mandatory for the sick person (when praying with gestures) to bow down more in sujood than in ruku. If they make the bowing(ruku) and prostration(sujood) equal, the prayer is not valid.
(Al-Bahr al-Raiq Sharh Kanz al-Daqa’iq,vol.2,baab Salatul mareez,p.200,Dar al kutub al-ilmiyyah)
It is stated in Fatawa Hindiyyah
ویجعل السجود اخفض من الرکوع کذا فی فتاوی قاضی خان حتی لوسوّی لم یصح
Translation: The sick person should make the sujood lower than the ruku, as stated in Fatawa Qadi Khan. If both are made equal, the prayer is not valid.
(Al-Fatawa al- Hindiyyah, vol.1,Salat ul Mareez,p136,Al turath)
It is stated in Nur al-Idah wa Najat al-Arwah:
”وان تعذر الرکوع والسجود صلی قاعدا بالایماء وجعل ایماءہ للسجود اخفض من ایمائہ للرکوع فان لم یخفضه عنه لاتصح “
Translation:If it is difficult for the sick person to perform ruku and sujood,he should pray while sitting and use gestures, making the gesture for sujood lower than for ruku. If he does not lower the gesture for sujood more than the gesture for ruku, the prayer is not valid.
(Nur al-Idah wa Najat al-Arwah,Baab Salatul Mareez,p.89,Al turath)
ھذا من عندی عبدالضعیف، والله اعلم بالصواب
Written by:
Abu Al-Ameen Muhammad Mobee Attari
27/5/2024
Rewiew: Mufti Muhammad Anas Raza Qadri