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:

Can a pregnant woman offer her prayers by sitting down on chair instead of standing

(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:

Prayer pregnant sitting

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.

Reported 'Umar ibn Hussain, "I had some physical problem, so I asked the Prophet (saws) about the prayer, and he said, 'Pray standing; if you are not able to then sit and pray, if you are not able to (do even that), then pray (while lying) on your side." Related by al-Bukhari.

Although it is preferable that one who is physically able, to stand and offer their prayer, if for any genuine reason (and the later stages of pregnancy are definitely a genuine reason) one is unable to stand, or fears one might bring harm upon oneself (or the unborn child), there is absolutely no harm and perfectly permissible in Islam if one prays in a sitting position (either the floor, or on a chair, or a raised platform, etc.); it is expected that their Lord Most Gracious will accept their striving and their worship, and will give them their due rewards Insha Allah.

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan