Pray while standing; if you cannot, then while sitting; and if you cannot, then while lying on your side

Arabic text

عن عمران بن حصين رضي الله عنه قال: كَانَتْ بِي بَوَاسِيرُ، فَسَأَلْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنِ الصَّلَاةِ، فَقَالَ: «صَلِّ قَائِمًا، فَإِنْ لَمْ تَسْتَطِعْ فَقَاعِدًا، فَإِنْ لَمْ تَسْتَطِعْ فَعَلَى جَنْبٍ».

Translation

‘Imrān ibn Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I was suffering from hemorrhoids (piles); so I asked the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) about the prayer and he said: "Pray while standing; if you cannot, then while sitting; and if you cannot, then while lying on your side."

Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) pointed out that the main rule is to pray while standing, except when one is unable to do so, in which case he can pray while sitting, and if he cannot, he can pray while lying on his side.

Benefits

• Prayer does not cease to be due as long as a person retains his sanity. He may move from one condition to another according to his capacity.
• The Hadīth shows the leniency and ease of Islam, as it allows a person to perform worship in accordance with his ability.

Topics

• Jurisprudence and Juristic Principles
• Jurisprudence of Acts of Worship
• Prayer
• Prayer of the People with Excuses