Can you pray if you are sick in Islam?

Every Muslim is obligated to pray even in sickness, in this article we will learn how to perform Wudu and salat when sick.

Prayers are one of the five pillars of Islam, there’s no reason that allows dropping prayers. As long as you’re mentally capable of performing the salah then you should perform it. And we can see that clearly in the following verse:

Allah Says in the holy Quran: “And when you travel throughout the land, there is no blame upon you for shortening the prayer, [especially] if you fear that those who disbelieve may disrupt [or attack] you. Indeed, the disbelievers are ever to you a clear enemy. And when you [i.e. the commander of an army] are among them and lead them in prayer, let a group of them stand [in prayer] with you and let them carry their arms. And when they have prostrated, let them be [in position] behind you and have the other group come forward which has not [yet] prayed and let them pray with you, taking precaution and carrying their arms. Those who disbelieve wish that you would neglect your weapons and your baggage so they could come down upon you in one [single] attack.” [Quran 4: 102].

وَإِذَا كُنتَ فِيهِمْ فَأَقَمْتَ لَهُمُ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ فَلْتَقُمْ طَآئِفَةٌۭ مِّنْهُم مَّعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُوٓا۟ أَسْلِحَتَهُمْ فَإِذَا سَجَدُوا۟ فَلْيَكُونُوا۟ مِن وَرَآئِكُمْ وَلْتَأْتِ طَآئِفَةٌ أُخْرَىٰ لَمْ يُصَلُّوا۟ فَلْيُصَلُّوا۟ مَعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُوا۟ حِذْرَهُمْ وَأَسْلِحَتَهُمْ ۗ وَدَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَوْ تَغْفُلُونَ عَنْ أَسْلِحَتِكُمْ وَأَمْتِعَتِكُمْ فَيَمِيلُونَ عَلَيْكُم مَّيْلَةًۭ وَٰحِدَةًۭ ۚ وَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِن كَانَ بِكُمْ أَذًۭى مِّن مَّطَرٍ أَوْ كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰٓ أَن تَضَعُوٓا۟ أَسْلِحَتَكُمْ ۖ وَخُذُوا۟ حِذْرَكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَعَدَّ لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ عَذَابًۭا مُّهِينًۭا ١٠٢

Even in a state of war and fear Muslims are obligated to pray. The importance of prayer comes in third after giving testimony that there’s no god but Allah and that the prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him) is the messenger of Allah. the verse then continues:   

“remember Allaah standing, sitting, or [lying] on your sides. But when you become secure, re-establish [regular] prayer. Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.” [Quran 4:103]

فَإِذَا قَضَيْتُمُ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ قِيَـٰمًۭا وَقُعُودًۭا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِكُمْ ۚ فَإِذَا ٱطْمَأْنَنتُمْ فَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَـٰبًۭا مَّوْقُوتًۭا ١٠٣

From the above verse, we can see that even the prophet and companions were not exempted from prayers when they were fighting the enemy.

The Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said to ‘Imraan Bin Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him) when he was suffering from piles: “Pray while standing, if unable, then sitting, if yet unable, then lying on your side.” [Al-Bukhari] 

This hadith shows that even when being ill you should pray.

A hadith that shows the importance of performing Salah: (The best jihad is to perform fard [obligatory] acts of worship.) [Tabarani]

 

Can you pray while sick?

Yes, you can and should pray while sick. Prayers are compulsory for every mature and sane Muslim. Even if you’re sick, you’re obligated to pray according to your strength, as stated in the following hadith:

The Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said to ‘Imraan Bin Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him) when he was suffering from piles: “Pray while standing, if unable, then sitting, if yet unable, then lying on your side.” [Al-Bukhari]   

If you can stand then you’re obligated to pray while standing. If the sick person can’t pray while standing then he/she should pray while sitting. But what if he can’t pray while sitting? If he can’t pray while sitting then he can pray while lying on his side with his face directed towards the Qiblah. If the person can’t lay on his side, then when sleeping on his back and his feet are directed towards the Qiblah if possible. If that’s not permitted then he can pray as his condition permits.

Allah said in the holy Quran: “So keep your duty to Allah and fear Him as much as you can.” (At-taghabun, 16).

 

What is the hadith of prayer of a sick person?

The Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said to ‘Imran bn Husain: “Pray while standing, and if you cannot, then while sitting, and if you cannot then pray while lying down.”

 

What to pray when ill in Islam?

When being ill in Islam you are still obligated to pray the five prayers as long as you’re capable of doing so. You can combine the prayers if you can. Here are the excuses that excuse you from performing prayers as stated in Durr ul-Mukhtar book:

(1) if one, in front of the enemy during wartime, is unable to perform salat even by sitting and by turning to any direction other than the qibla.

(2) when one is on a journey (traveling).

 (3) if there is such a danger as floods, beasts, bandits, or anarchists and if it is not possible to perform salat even by sitting or on an animal by gestures (ishaarah).

(5) a doctor’s missing salat due to an operation in case of emergency.

(6) sleeping.

(7) forgetting. It is not a sin to miss a salat due to such excuses.

Keep in mind that those reasons prevent a person from praying at the time but he/she should perform it later even by combining it with another prayer.

 

Missing salah due to illness

When you miss a Salah due to illness you should make up for it as soon as you can. Anas narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said: “Whoever forgets a prayer, let him pray it when he remembers it.”  (An-Nasa`i)

 

How to pray when you are sick?

Here’s how you should pray if you’re sick:

1.     if you’re capable of standing then pray while standing.
2.     If standing is impossible or too hard for you then pray while sitting.

When performing salah while sitting and you can’t perform prostration, then you should gesture your body when bowing and prostration. Lower your body more when performing prostration than when bowing. If the person can’t move his body and bow then he can gesture with his head only.

3.     if the person can’t pray while sitting to due his illness then he can perform salah lying on his side and facing the Qibla. It’s better if the person lies on his right side.

4.     If the person can’t lie on his side, then he should perform prayer while lying on his back and his feet directed toward the Qibla if permitted.

5.     If the person can stand but can’t learn to perform sujood. Then in this case the person should stand while performing the salah and sit when performing the sujood and leaning forward.

6.     If the person was instructed by his doctor to sleep on his back or else his illness will not heal then the person should pray while lying on his back.

7.     If the person can’t pray unless sitting then he should lean forward to bow and prostrate. And keep in mind that the prostration should be lower than bowing.

8.     If the person can’t bend his back, then he should gesture with his head or bend his neck. But if he can bend his back then he should lean forward as much as he can to make his face near to the ground when prostrating.

9.     If the person can’t tilt his head forward then he should say takbeer and recite Qur’an, and intend in his heart the standing, bowing, rising, prostration, rising, sitting between the two prostrations and sitting to recite the tashahhud, and he should recite all the prescribed adhkaar.

10.   When the sick person feel better and can perform what he couldn’t in the past days, for example, if he wasn’t able of bowing and prostrating, or if he wasn’t able of standing or sitting. In all ways when he feels better then he should perform the prayer normally (if the person was unable to pray while sitting but now, he can then he should pray while sitting, and so on).

11.   If the sick person is asleep or misses a prayer because he forgot then he should perform the prayer as soon as he remembers or when he wakes up. Don’t leave to pray it with the following prayer or until the time for the same prayer the next day.

12.   If performing every prayer on its time is too hard on the ill person then he can combine the prayers. Combine Zuhr and ‘Asr, and Maghrib and ‘Isha’, whether praying Ish at the time of maghrib or the opposite it’s permissible for the sick person.

13.   When it comes to praying Fajr you can’t combine it with any other salah. Pray it as soon as you can before the Zuhr time comes.

Don’t forget what the prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said to ‘Imraan Bin Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him) when he was suffering from piles: “Pray while standing, if unable, then sitting, if yet unable, then lying on your side.” [Al-Bukhari] 

 

Who is exempt from praying in Islam?

Prayer is obligatory for every mature and sane Muslim. If the person has any mental disabilities, then he’s exempted from praying. Also, the ones who are menstruating or experiencing postnatal bleeding are exempted from praying.

If the person is traveling then he is allowed to shorten his prayer or combine them. The four Rakat prayer becomes two when shortening the prayer. And to combine prayers you should pray Dhuhr together with Asr whether praying asr at the time of Dhuhr or praying Duhur at the time of Asr and Maghrib together with Isha’.

Allah the Highest said in the holy Quran: “And when you (Muslims) travel in the land, there is no sin on you if you shorten your As-Salat if you fear that the disbelievers may attack you, for verily the disbelievers are forever, unto you, open enemies.” (An-Nisa, 101).

وَإِذَا ضَرَبْتُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَقْصُرُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ إِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَن يَفْتِنَكُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ كَانُوا۟ لَكُمْ عَدُوًّۭا مُّبِينًۭا ١٠١

Anas bn Malik said: “We went with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessing be upon him) from Madinah to Makkah and he used to lead us in Salat, praying two rak’ahs, until we returned.”

 

Having a fever in Islam

As we said above praying is obligatory for every Muslim. If you have a fever and are still conscious of what’s happening around you then you should perform the salah standing, sitting, or lying on your back. But if you’re not capable of performing the prayer for any reason then you should make up for all the missed prayers once you’re capable of doing so.

Allah Says in the holy Quran: “And when you travel throughout the land, there is no blame upon you for shortening the prayer, [especially] if you fear that those who disbelieve may disrupt [or attack] you. Indeed, the disbelievers are ever to you a clear enemy. And when you [i.e. the commander of an army] are among them and lead them in prayer, let a group of them stand [in prayer] with you and let them carry their arms. And when they have prostrated, let them be [in position] behind you and have the other group come forward which has not [yet] prayed and let them pray with you, taking precaution and carrying their arms. Those who disbelieve wish that you would neglect your weapons and your baggage so they could come down upon you in one [single] attack.” [Quran 4: 102].

وَإِذَا كُنتَ فِيهِمْ فَأَقَمْتَ لَهُمُ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ فَلْتَقُمْ طَآئِفَةٌۭ مِّنْهُم مَّعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُوٓا۟ أَسْلِحَتَهُمْ فَإِذَا سَجَدُوا۟ فَلْيَكُونُوا۟ مِن وَرَآئِكُمْ وَلْتَأْتِ طَآئِفَةٌ أُخْرَىٰ لَمْ يُصَلُّوا۟ فَلْيُصَلُّوا۟ مَعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُوا۟ حِذْرَهُمْ وَأَسْلِحَتَهُمْ ۗ وَدَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَوْ تَغْفُلُونَ عَنْ أَسْلِحَتِكُمْ وَأَمْتِعَتِكُمْ فَيَمِيلُونَ عَلَيْكُم مَّيْلَةًۭ وَٰحِدَةًۭ ۚ وَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِن كَانَ بِكُمْ أَذًۭى مِّن مَّطَرٍ أَوْ كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰٓ أَن تَضَعُوٓا۟ أَسْلِحَتَكُمْ ۖ وَخُذُوا۟ حِذْرَكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَعَدَّ لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ عَذَابًۭا مُّهِينًۭا ١٠٢

“remember Allaah standing, sitting, or [lying] on your sides. But when you become secure, re-establish [regular] prayer. Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.” [Quran 4:103]

فَإِذَا قَضَيْتُمُ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ قِيَـٰمًۭا وَقُعُودًۭا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِكُمْ ۚ فَإِذَا ٱطْمَأْنَنتُمْ فَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَـٰبًۭا مَّوْقُوتًۭا ١٠٣

 

Can a sick person pray without ablution?

No, ablution is obligatory for performing prayers even for a sick person. And here’s what you should do:

1.     Whether being sick or not wudu is obligatory for minor impurity and ghusl in the case of major impurity.
2.     After urinating a person should clean himself before performing Wudu. The person should clean himself with a clean tissue, water, or anything that h can use. But cleaning oneself with anything that is respectable such as food is not acceptable.
3.     If the sick person can’t perform wudu with water because his doctor instructed him not to make water touch his injury or if water will worsen his sickness, then he should perform tayammum. If the sick person can’t use water because he’s not able of doing so then he also should perform tayammum.

Here’s how to perform it:

The first thing you must do is to find a clean place; it could be anything natural like sand, grass, or rock. However, if the place is not clean you must clean it first. You can purify the place with water but if there is no water to clean with you can use any of the items that are allowed to do tayammum with, like sand and stone.

Then if you are wearing a ring or there is nail polish on your nails then you must remove them to do tayammum. Also, when performing wudu you don’t have to take off your shoes or socks, you simply wipe the top of each covered foot one time with your wet hands.

While doing tayammum you can do the same but instead of water, you will use any of the following items:

•       pure earth
•       Sand
•       Stone
•       Limestone
•       Baked earthen pots
•       Walls made of mud, stone, or brick
•       Clay
•       Any item with a thick covering of dust

And wipe the top of each covered foot one time. Also when doing tayammum you should memorize the right order to do tayammum or you will start all over again if you make a mistake. The same goes when doing wudu.

 

4.     If the person can perform wudu with water and there’s no risk of increasing the illness, or pain, causing harm, or delayed recovery, then he should use water, and tayammum is not allowed or accepted.
5.     If the ill person himself can’t perform Wudu on his own then another person can help him perform the wudu or tayammum.
6.     If the person can perform wudu on some parts of his body and not the rest then he can use water and do tayammum for the other parts as long as that won’t harm him or make his sickness worse.
7.     In case there’s a wound or injury in one of the parts that should be washed during Wudu and washing it will hurt him or is too difficult for him then he can wipe it with water instead of washing it or perform tayammum instead for that part.
8.     If the person is wearing a dressing like in the case of having a broken arm or so then it’s permissible to wipe over the dressing even if he wasn’t in a state of purity when he put it on.

 

Conclusion

We conclude that praying is obligatory for anyone who is capable of praying, even during sickness or war a person should not drop the prayers as we learn from the following verses:

 “And when you travel throughout the land, there is no blame upon you for shortening the prayer, [especially] if you fear that those who disbelieve may disrupt [or attack] you. Indeed, the disbelievers are ever to you a clear enemy. And when you [i.e. the commander of an army] are among them and lead them in prayer, let a group of them stand [in prayer] with you and let them carry their arms. And when they have prostrated, let them be [in position] behind you and have the other group come forward which has not [yet] prayed and let them pray with you, taking precaution and carrying their arms. Those who disbelieve wish that you would neglect your weapons and your baggage so they could come down upon you in one [single] attack.” [Quran 4: 102].

وَإِذَا كُنتَ فِيهِمْ فَأَقَمْتَ لَهُمُ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ فَلْتَقُمْ طَآئِفَةٌۭ مِّنْهُم مَّعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُوٓا۟ أَسْلِحَتَهُمْ فَإِذَا سَجَدُوا۟ فَلْيَكُونُوا۟ مِن وَرَآئِكُمْ وَلْتَأْتِ طَآئِفَةٌ أُخْرَىٰ لَمْ يُصَلُّوا۟ فَلْيُصَلُّوا۟ مَعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُوا۟ حِذْرَهُمْ وَأَسْلِحَتَهُمْ ۗ وَدَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَوْ تَغْفُلُونَ عَنْ أَسْلِحَتِكُمْ وَأَمْتِعَتِكُمْ فَيَمِيلُونَ عَلَيْكُم مَّيْلَةًۭ وَٰحِدَةًۭ ۚ وَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِن كَانَ بِكُمْ أَذًۭى مِّن مَّطَرٍ أَوْ كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰٓ أَن تَضَعُوٓا۟ أَسْلِحَتَكُمْ ۖ وَخُذُوا۟ حِذْرَكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَعَدَّ لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ عَذَابًۭا مُّهِينًۭا ١٠٢

“remember Allaah standing, sitting, or [lying] on your sides. But when you become secure, re-establish [regular] prayer. Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.” [Quran 4:103]

فَإِذَا قَضَيْتُمُ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ قِيَـٰمًۭا وَقُعُودًۭا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِكُمْ ۚ فَإِذَا ٱطْمَأْنَنتُمْ فَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَـٰبًۭا مَّوْقُوتًۭا ١٠٣

During sickness a person is permitted to join prayers. If the patient is not conscious then he should perform the salah as soon as he gets better.

We also talked about how to perform Wudu when sick. If the sick person can use water, then he should perform Wudu. If he can’t do it on his own then someone should help him.  If using water will harm the ill person or make his illness worse, then he should perform tayammum instead. If the ill person is wearing a dressing due to a broken arm or so then he should wipe on it with water.

 That’s it for today’s article, I hope you found all the information you need. If you still have any questions or more information visit our website Iqra Online.