Fatwa ID: 06226
Answered by: Muftiyah Safiyya-Maryam Ahmed
Question:
When reading salaah on a chair does a person’s legs have to touch the ground?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
A person must offer salah fulfilling all of its conditions and necessary elements, standing (Qiyam) being one of them. Allah Azzawajjal has lifted hardship from his slaves as He says in the Quran, “No soul is burdened except with its capacity.” [2: 186] Therefore, if a person is unable to fulfil the condition of standing there is a leeway for them to sit, as mentioned in the Hadith of Imran bin Husayn [radhiAllahu anhu]: “I had haemorrhoids so I asked the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam) and He said, ‘Pray standing and if you are unable the sitting, and if you are not able to then on your side.’” This clarifies that necessity will allow certain things to be allowed but only according to the need- for example if a person cannot stand, they can sit on a chair but must perform ruku and sajdah as normal.
The Prophet [sallAllahu alaihi wa sallam] said, “When I command you to do something, do it as much as you are capable.” Therefore, when sitting on a chair one must try to resemble the form of salah as much as they can, so if they are able to place feet on the ground facing the qiblah they should do so. If they cannot due to a need or legs not reaching the ground then that would be overlooked.
Only Allah knows best
Written by Muftiyah Safiyya-Maryam Ahmed
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
| 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 ”. (صحيح البخاري, كتاب التقصير, حديث ١١١٧) |
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، حَدَّثَنِي مَالِكٌ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ دَعُونِي مَا تَرَكْتُكُمْ، إِنَّمَا هَلَكَ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ بِسُؤَالِهِمْ وَاخْتِلاَفِهِمْ عَلَى أَنْبِيَائِهِمْ، فَإِذَا نَهَيْتُكُمْ عَنْ شَىْءٍ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ، وَإِذَا أَمَرْتُكُمْ بِأَمْرٍ فَأْتُوا مِنْهُ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ ”. (صحيح البخاري, باب الاِقْتِدَاءِ بِسُنَنِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم, حديث ٧٢٨٨)
