Placing something for the sick person to prostrate on (during Salat)

Sources:

• Abridged Ruling concerning the Taharah and Salat of the sick person, by Shaikh Muhammad bin ‘Uthaimeen.
• Sharh al-Mumtie’ alaa Zaad al-Mustagna’, by Shaikh Muhammad bin ‘Uthaimeen.
• Clarified ruling of Mistake in Salat by Mashhur Hasan Al-Salman.

‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Umar (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) said: “The Prophet  (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) once visited a sick person and I accompanied him. When the Prophet  (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) entered the Sahabi’s house, he found him performing Salat, prostrating himself upon a stick, by putting his forehead on it. The Prophet  (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) pointed to him to get rid of the stick, which the Sahabi did and took a pillow instead. The Prophet  (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) thereupon said: ‘Leave it, if you are able to prostrate on the ground do so, otherwise bow down your head and make your Sujud lower than your Ruku.’’’ [Narrated by At-Trimidhi in “Al-Mu’jam Al-Kabir” and authenticated by al-Albani in al-Silsilah as-Sahiha no. 323]

Al-Jamhur held that it is detested that a sick person places something – such as a stick, a pillow or the like – in front of him on which he could prostrate when offering Salat.

Regarding this point, Imam Malik (Rahimahullaah) said: “The sick person should not lift something towards his forehead nor place a pillow on which he could prostrate in Salat.” [Al-Mudawwanah Al-Kubra]

Many of the Salaf abhorred the act of lifting something for the sick person to prostate on, and considered it to be a Bid’ah, for it was not practiced at the time of the Prophet  (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam). The following ‘Athar affirm this point:

(a) ‘Umar ibn Muhammad (Rahimahullaah) said: “We visited Hafs ibn ‘Asim when he was sick. He told us that his uncle ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) visited him and saw that a pillow covered with a Khumrah was placed before him so that he could prostrate on it in Salat. He [‘Abdullah] said to Hafs: ‘Never do this, my nephew! Prostrate yourself on the ground. If you are unable to do so, just lower your head.’” [Narrated by Abu ‘Uwanah in his Musnad]

(b)  He [‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu)] was asked regarding the sick person who prostrates himself on a stick in Salat; he said: “Never prostrate to any other than Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aala). If one is able to offer Salat while standing, he should do so. If not, then while in a sitting posture. If not, then while lying down on the ground.” [Narrated by Ibn Abi Shaibah and Abdur-Razzaq in al-Musannaf]

(c) ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) visited his brother when he was sick. He found him prostrating himself on a stick. ‘Abdullah took away the stick and said: “This [practice] is from Shaitan. Put your face on the ground; if unable to do so, just lower it.” [Al-Mughni]

(d)  Ibn Abi Shaibah narrated the same thing from Sa’id ibn al-Musayyab and ‘Urwah ibn az-Zubair (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu). Al-Hasan al-Basri, Yunus, Shuraih al-Qadi, ‘Ata’ ibn Rabah and many other Sahabah and Tabi’in abhorred such a practice. [Al-Mughni]

This is indeed of Islam’s easiness and flexibility when dealing with the sick; indeed, Allah (I) never burdens a soul with that which it cannot bear. This very idea was clearly displayed through the Prophet’s  (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) practice; i.e. offering Salat while in a sitting position without having something lifted to him on which he could prostrate. He forbade his Sahabah to perform prostration on a pillow, a stick, etc., but instead ordered them to offer from the acts of the Salah that which was within their capability. Indeed, the act of prostrating oneself on a stick, a stone, a pillow, etc., is similar to the act of the idolaters who prostrate themselves to their idols, and similar to the act of the people of Bid’ah. This same rationale is clearly displayed in the statement of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar.

To conclude, the sick person, who is unable to offer Salat while standing, should do it while sitting. If unable to do so, then while lying on his side facing the Qiblah. If unable to do even that, he should offer Salat while lying on his back. [Ahkamul- Marid fil-Fiqh al-Islami]

It is worth mentioning that using a chair in Salat by those who are unable to perform Sujud on the ground is something permissible; however, one should stand for reciting the Fatihah if he is able to do so.

Shaikh Bin Uthaimeen (Rahimahullaah) said in Sharh al-Mumtie ala Zaad al-Mustagna’, book of Salat: “If one is incapable to prostrate with some of the limbs, we have a rule which is the statement of Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aala) in Surat at-Taghabun (64:16):

فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ

“So keep your duty to Allah (and fear Him) as much as you can.”

and the statement of the Prophet  (Salla-Allaahu alaihi wa sallam) in the two Sahihs, “If I order you with something, carry it out (act upon it) as much as you can.” If it happened that one of the two hands was injured and he cannot prostrate with it, then let him prostrate on the rest of the limbs in accordance to the statement of Allah in Surat at-Taghabun (64:16).

Or if it happened that he had an operation in his eyes and he has been told not to prostrate on the ground, in this case let him bend his head as much as he can and put whatever he can of the limbs of prostration on the ground.

He (Rahimahullaah) also said in “Ahkam at-Tahara was-Salat lil-Mareedh”: “The sick person should perform Ruku’ and Sujud, and if he can not, let him bend his head by making the Sujud lower than the Ruku’. If he fails to prostrate, let him perform the Ruku’ and bend his head for the Sujud (prostration), and if he is able to prostrate but fails to perform Ruku’, then he should prostrate and bend his head for the Ruku’.

If the sick person is unable to bend his head for the Ruku’ and Sujud, then he should gesture with his eyes; he should close them little for the Ruku’ and Sujud. However, gesturing with fingers is not correct and is baseless. There is no evidence for that in the Qur’an or Sunnah.

In case he is unable to bend his head as well as to gesture with his eyes, he then offers the Salat with his heart by intending the Ruku’, Sujud and Qiyam (standing) with his heart. Everyone will be rewarded according to his intention.”