[Q 584] Sajdah Difficulty Due To Illness

QUESTION:

If a sister struggles just to do Sajda in namaz but is perfectly able to do the standing and the ruku, does that mean she is doing all this wrong?

They have severe arthritis in their joints so struggle to perform it, there are days when they can and then their are days when they are in a lot of pain.

As I was informed that if a person is able to perform standing and ruku without any problem but struggles in prostration then they should stand for what they can and sit for sajda. Please can you provide clarification.

ANSWER:

Firstly, understand that the person who is not qadir (able) to perform actual sajdah (prostration), meaning that if they perform sajdah on the ground or by placing something up to 12 angul (approximately 9 inches) high and prostrating on it, they will experience unbearable pain or their illness will increase, then sajdah becomes ساقط (dropped) for them. Since sajdah is the maqsud-e-asli (primary objective) of the prayer, when it is ساقط (dropped), then ruku‘ (bowing) and qiyam (standing) are also ساقط (dropped). For such a person, it is afdhal (more virtuous) to offer the prayer sitting on the ground. However, if they remain standing for qiyam and perform ruku‘ and sujud (or only sajdah) with ishara (gesture), then this is also جائز (permissible).

However, if a person is able to perform sajdah but cannot complete full qiyam, then it is fard (obligatory) for them to stand for as long as they are able, and then sit and perform ruku‘ and sujud.

Therefore, if a woman is not able to perform sajdah (as explained above), then it is afdhal (more virtuous) for her to perform the entire prayer while sitting. And if she performs qiyam and ruku‘, then sits and performs sajdah with ishara (gesture), this is also جائز (permissible).

Answered by:Mubashir Attari (AskMufti Scholar)
Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari
Translated answer
Date: 19th March 2026.