She cannot move her head because of severe pain; how should she pray?
Question A sister is asking that she has a very strong pain in her head that makes her vomit. When this happens she cannot pray in any position, as she cannot raise her head. How shall she pray when prayer time comes?. Praise be to Allah. Firstly: We ask Allaah to grant our sister healing…
Question
Praise be to Allah.
Firstly:
We ask Allaah to grant our
sister healing and well being in her religious and worldly affairs.
Secondly:
If the time for prayer
comes and she feels pain, then she may delay the prayer until the end of its
preferred time, in the hope that she may be able to offer the prayer in the
proper manner. But if the pain persists, then she may pray in the manner
that she is able to, even if she is lying on her back.
The basic principle
concerning that is the verse in which Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning):
“Allaah burdens not a
person beyond his scope”
[al-Baqarah 2:286].
And the Prophet (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to ‘Imraan ibn Husayn: “Pray
standing, and if you cannot, then sitting, and if you cannot, then (lying)
on your side.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (1117) and Abu Dawood (952).
If a person prays sitting,
then he should lean forward for rukoo’ (bowing) and sujood (prostration),
and he should lean forward more for prostration than for bowing.
If a person prays lying on
his right or left side, then he should tilt his head towards his chest for
bowing and prostration. If a person prays lying on his back, he should put
his feet towards the qiblah and tilt his head towards his chest for bowing
and prostration. If he is unable – when sitting or lying – to move his head,
then the actions are waived in his case, because that is the thing that he
is unable to do, but the words are not waived because he is able to say
them, and Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “So keep your duty
to Allaah and fear Him as much as you can” [al-Taghaabun 64:16].
So he should say takbeer and recite Qur’aan, and intend to bow and say
takbeer and recite the tasbeeh of bowing, then he should intend to stand up
and say Sami’a Allaahu liman hamidah, rabbana wa laka’l-hamd
(Allaah hears the one who praises Him, our Lord to You be praise) etc. Then
he should intend to prostrate and say takbeer and the tasbeeh of
prostration, because this is what is implied by the shar’i principle, “So
keep your duty to Allaah and fear Him as much as you can”.
End quote from al-Sharh
al-Mumti’ (4/332).
And Allaah knows best.
