Fatwa ID: 01315
Answered by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Question:
I noticed a person praying salah on the coach whilst travelling, would the salah be valid? The person was sitting whilst praying. The coach was not stationary. Similarly I see a lot of people praying on the plane whilst sitting would that be valid.
Answer:
In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful.
Your question will be looked at in the following three ways;
- Salah on an aeroplane
- Salah on a ship or boat
- Salah on a train or bus.
With regards to salah on an aeroplane, it is an issue where there are different opinions regarding its validity. It is therefore, best one does not perform ones salah one board if one feels that he will be able to perform his salah when the plane lands. If that is not possible or there is a danger that the salah may become qadha then one can pray the salah on board the plane. However, it should be borne in mind that it is incumbent in that situation to pray salah standing, performing the ruku and sajdah properly facing towards the qiblah. If any one of these three conditions are missing one will be obliged to repeat the salah again. (Imdadul Fatawa p.587 v.1 & Fatawa Darul Uloom Deoband p.156 v.2)
With regards to salah on a ship or boat, a moving ship allows a person to pray salah sitting down even without an excuse. However, it is best to perform the salah standing up. If the ship is anchored at sea, though is not being swayed, then it is regarded as a still ship at shore. A few rules are derived concerning a still ship at shore; if one offers prayer standing with part of the ship on the ground, his prayer is valid. If not, then his prayer is invalid unless he is unable to exit the ship, in which case he may offer the prayer standing. (Nurul Idah p.190 & Maraqi Falah p.421)
Regarding salah on a train or bus, it is permissible to perform salah on a train or on a bus irrespective of whether the train or bus is moving or stationery. However, the conditions attached to the validity of such a salah are that the person stands and that he faces the qiblah. Salah will be invalid if any of these two conditions are not met.
If the crowd is so much, one may perform salah sitting down and facing in any direction possible. However, one will be required to repeat his salah afterwards. (Ahsanul Fatawa p.88 v.4 & Fatawa Darul Uloom Deoband p.156 v.2)
Finally, it should be borne in mind that any salah performed sitting on a seat even though they are able to perform salah standing would be considered invalid. (Fatawa Mahmoodiyah p.229 v.14 & Imdadul Fatawa p.568 v.1)
Only Allah Knows Best
Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
