Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear Mr. Burhan,

It has become common in many households, whenever there is doubt to "Ask Mr. Burhan" Ladies are more particular about Islamic protocol.

The question from an elderly Lady is that when she is in the Masque she uses the Chair and does the SIJDDAS without a table in front. Is it Ok?

At home she uses a table for SIJDDA thinking that her prayer will not be accepted if she does not bow the head on a hard surface such as table. Doctor advised her to use chair. Please advise what is obilgatory?

Thanks.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Can one pray on chair?

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Statement: It has become common in many households, whenever there is doubt to "Ask Mr. Burhan" Ladies are more particular about Islamic protocol.

May Allah Subhanah reward you with the best of this world and the Hereafter for your kind comments of encouragement for our humble efforts in the propagation of the Truth. We humbly hope, beg, and pray the Merciful Lord accepts our humble and weak efforts, forgives us our shortcomings, and saves you, us, and all the believers from the torment of the Hell Fire. Ameen.

All Praise is due to Allah Subhanah, Who has guided the believers to the Truth of Al-Islam. Beloved brother, Allah Subhanah has indeed been very kind to us, and honored us to perform this simple and humble service in His Cause and the Propagation of the Truth from the Quran and Sunnah. We are nothing but humble slaves to our Merciful Lord, and students seeking knowledge in the vast ocean of the Truth. You have obviously given us more credit than we deserve!

Beloved brother, if you would allow us we would like to give you our humble advice on your statement: whenever there is doubt to "Ask Mr. Burhan"! We realize and understand the responsibility we have taken upon ourselves, and if Allah Subhanah helps us and guides us, we will strive to fulfill our duties to our brothers and sisters in faith to the best of our capability.

If you find our articles and answers to your questions in absolute alignment to the guidance and teachings of the Quran and Sunnah; we strongly urge you to accept the teachings of Allah and His Messenger (saws). But if, Allah forbid, you find that our answers and articles are not in alignment with the guidance of the Quran and Sunnah, you must challenge those answers, if any; or demand that we produce proof from the Quran and Sunnah; or reconfirm our opinion with other eminent scholars who are truly seeking the Pleasure and Good Will of the Merciful Lord.

We, as believers in Allah and the Last Day, must never accept a ruling on any matter of the deen, unless and until it has evidence from the Quran and Sunnah! And if one provides evidence from the Quran and Sunnah, then we must wholeheartedly submit to the Commands and Guidance of Allah and His Messenger (saws). That, and only that, should be the underlying principle in the seeking of the knowledge of Truth!

If it is from the Quran and Sunnah, accept and submit to it wholeheartedly; if not, then we must challenge it and demand that the person gives evidence from the Quran and Sunnah for his opinion.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzaab verse 36:It does not behove a believing man and a believing woman that when Allah and His Messenger have given their decision in a matter, they should exercise an option in that matter of theirs. For whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, has indeed strayed into manifest error.

Your Question: The question from an elderly Lady is that when she is in the Masque she uses the Chair and does the SIJDDAS without a table in front. Is it Ok?

If one is of abject old age, or if one is physically challenged, or if one has a valid reason; there is absolutely no harm if one prays sitting if one cannot stand, or if one prays even lying down if one cannot sit, or if one prays even with gestures by the movement of his eyes, if one cannot move any of his limbs! Such is the Mercy of our Lord in the practicing of the deen of Islam.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale Imraan verses 190-195:

190 Behold! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of night and day; there are indeed Signs for men of understanding.

191 Men who celebrate the praises of Allah standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and contemplate the (wonders of) creation in the heavens and the earth (with the thought): "O Our Lord! not for naught hast thou created (all) this! Glory to thee! Give us salvation from the penalty of the fire.

192 O Our Lord! Any whom thou dost admit to the fire truly thou coverest with shame, and never will wrong-doers find any helpers!.

193 O Our Lord! We have heard the call of one calling (us) to faith `Believe ye in the Lord' and we have believed. O Our Lord! Forgive us our sins, blot out from us our iniquities, and take to thyself our souls in the company of the righteous.

194 O Our Lord! Grant us what Thou didst promise unto us through thine Messengers, and save us from shame on the Day of Judgment: for thou never breakest Thy promise."

195 And their Lord hath accepted of them, and answered them: "Never will I suffer to be lost the work of any of you, be he male or female: ye are members one of another; those who have left their homes, or been driven out therefrom, or suffered harm in My cause, or fought or been slain; verily I will blot out from them their iniquities and admit them into gardens with rivers flowing beneath; a reward from the presence of Allah, and from His presence is the best of rewards."

Imran ibn Hussain says: "I had piles [hemorrhoids], so I asked the Prophet (saws) about the prayer and he (saws) said: 'Offer the salah while standing, and if you cannot do so, pray while sitting, and if you can't do that, then make salah while Iying on your side."'

Related by Al-Bukhari, Abu Dawood, Ahmad, Tirmidhi, An-Nasia, etc. And An-Nasa'i adds the following from the Messenger of Allah (saws) who said: "And if you cannot offer salah while lying on your side, then do it while lying on your back. Allah does not burden a soul, save with what it can bear."

Jabir reports: "The Messenger of Allah (saws) visited a sick person and found him praying on a cushion. The Prophet (saws) pushed it aside and said: "Pray on the ground if you can, and if you cannot, then pray by making gestures, and make your sajdah lower than your ruku'.'"

Related by al-Baihaqi .

In light of the above verse of the Glorious Quran, and the authentic narrations of the Messenger of Allah (saws), there is absolutely no harm if a person with a valid reason, prays and makes the prostration by gestures, even without resting the head in prostration on the ground or on a hard surface. The worship and prayer of such a person who has a valid reason, would be absolutely valid and acceptable in the sight of the Merciful Lord, Insha Allah.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan