May someone able to stand pray an obligatory prayer sitting?
2026-10-13
T145 · Ibn Taymiyyah
Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah
شيخ الإسلام أحمد بن تيمية
Original Q&A · Complete source question and answer
Complete original question and answer, 24/6–7. The answer addresses both sexes and distinguishes obligatory prayer, voluntary prayer, illness and danger.
النص العربي
السؤال الأصلي
وسئل شيخ الإسلام: هل تجوزصلاة المرأة قاعدة مع قدرتها على القيام؟
الجواب
وأما صلاة الفرض قاعدا مع القدرة على القيام، فلا تصح، لا من رجل ولا امرأة، بل قد قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: "صل قائما، فإن لم تستطع فقاعدا، فإن لم تستطع فعلى جنبك".
ولكن يجوز التطوع جالسا، ويجوز التطوع على الراحلة في السفر قبل أي جهة توجهت بصاحبها، فإن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يصلي على دابته قبل أي جهة توجهت به، ويوتر عليها، غير أنه لا يصلي عليها المكتوبة.
ويجوز للمريض إذا شق عليه القيام أن يصلي قاعدا، فإن لم يستطع صلى على جنبه، وكذلك إذا كان رجل لا يمكنه النزول إلى الأرض، صلى على راحلته، والخائف من عدوه إذا نزل يصلي على راحلته. والله أعلم.
English translation
English translation prepared for SalafAlSalih.com from the cited Arabic source. It is not an official translation.
Original question
Shaykh al-Islām was asked: May a woman pray sitting when she is able to stand?
Answer
An obligatory prayer offered sitting when one is able to stand is not valid, whether by a man or a woman. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: ‘Pray standing; if you cannot, then sitting; if you cannot, then on your side.’
Voluntary prayer may, however, be offered sitting. It may also be offered on a mount while travelling, facing whichever direction it takes its rider. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would pray on his animal facing whichever way it went, and would perform Witr on it, but he would not perform the obligatory prayer on it.
An ill person for whom standing is difficult may pray sitting; if he cannot, he prays on his side. Similarly, if a man cannot dismount to the ground, he prays on his mount, and someone who fears his enemy if he dismounts prays on his mount. Allah knows best.
Source and editorial notes
Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā 24/6–7
مجموع الفتاوى
Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā
Arabic question and complete answer collated with the cited source text and its adjacent question boundaries. Arabic diacritics omitted, display marks removed and honorific glyphs expanded. Browsing headings and scope notes are editorial.