The Prophet ﷺ told Imran ibn Husayn, who had piles: pray standing; if you cannot, sitting; and if you cannot, on your side. Allah has not placed any hardship on you in the religion (22:78) and does not burden a soul beyond its capacity (2:286).
1The steps of ease
Pray standing if able, even by leaning on a wall or a stick.
If standing is not possible or harms him, pray sitting, and bow and prostrate as he can.
If sitting is not possible, pray on the side, facing the Qibla. If that is not possible, on the back with the feet toward the Qibla.
If bowing and prostrating are not possible, nod with the head, with the prostration lower than the bowing.
If even a nod is not possible, make the movements in the mind. The prayer is not dropped as long as the person is conscious.
2Combining and purification
A sick person who finds that wudu is hard on him may use tayammum.
A sick person who finds it hard to pray each prayer on time may combine Dhuhr with Asr and Maghrib with Isha, according to the Hanbali and Maliki schools.
Where the schools differ
The four Sunni schools agree on the main ruling above and differ in these points. No school is preferred here.
Standing is dropped when it causes real harm or severe pain, or would delay recovery. The schools agree on this. Praying sitting out of laziness, when able to stand, is not valid.
Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned. "Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred. Our Lord, and lay not upon us a burden like that which You laid upon those before us. Our Lord, and burden us not with that which we have no ability to bear. And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us. You are our protector, so give us victory over the disbelieving people."
And strive for Allah with the striving due to Him. He has chosen you and has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty. [It is] the religion of your father, Abraham. Allah named you "Muslims" before [in former scriptures] and in this [revelation] that the Messenger may be a witness over you and you may be witnesses over the people. So establish prayer and give zakah and hold fast to Allah. He is your protector; and excellent is the protector, and excellent is the helper.
From the Sunnah
Sahih al-Bukhari 1117Authentic collection
The point of the hadith: Pray standing, and if you cannot, sitting, and if you cannot, on your side.
Read the Arabic text
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدَانُ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ طَهْمَانَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي الْحُسَيْنُ الْمُكْتِبُ، عَنِ ابْنِ بُرَيْدَةَ، عَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ حُصَيْنٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ كَانَتْ بِي بَوَاسِيرُ فَسَأَلْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنِ الصَّلاَةِ فَقَالَ " صَلِّ قَائِمًا، فَإِنْ لَمْ تَسْتَطِعْ فَقَاعِدًا، فَإِنْ لَمْ تَسْتَطِعْ فَعَلَى جَنْبٍ ".
This is general information, not a fatwa. For your own situation, ask a qualified scholar.
Fiqh questions
Prayer in illness
The Prophet ﷺ told Imran ibn Husayn, who had piles: pray standing; if you cannot, sitting; and if you cannot, on your side. Allah has not placed any hardship on you in the religion (22:78) and does not burden a soul beyond its capacity (2:286).
Is this a fatwa?
No. It is a summary of well-known rulings with their evidence. For your own case, ask a qualified scholar.
What if my school differs from this answer?
Follow the view of the school you follow and the scholar who teaches you. The page lists the differences of the four schools.
