Pray on the ground if you are able to; and if not, then use gestures and make your prostration lower than your bowing
عن جابر بن عبد الله رضي الله عنهما : أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عاد مريضا، فرآه يصلي على وِسَادَةٍ، فأخذها فَرَمَى بها، فأخذ عودًا ليُصلي عليه، فأخذه فَرَمَى به وقال: «صَلِّ على الأرض إن استطعت، وَإِلا فَأَوْمِئْ إِيمَاءً، واجْعَلْ سجودك أخفَضَ من ركُوُعك».
Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) visited a sick person and saw him pray on a pillow. He took the pillow and threw it away. The man took it, again with the intention to pray on it, and the Messenger of Allah once again threw it away. He then said: "Pray on the ground if you are able to; and if not, then use gestures and make your prostration lower than your bowing."
Narrated by Al-Bazzar - Al-BayhaqiGradeAuthentic hadith
Explanation
This noble Hadīth demonstrates how a sick person who is unable to place his forehead on the ground can pray. He is obligated to pray according to his ability and is allowed to use gestures instead of bowing and prostration, but his prostration should be lower than his bowing.
Reference
سنن البيهقي الكبرى، لأحمد بن الحسين بن علي بن موسى أبو بكر البيهقي، مكتبة دار الباز، مكة المكرمة، 1414 – 1994، تحقيق: محمد عبد القادر عطا.
توضيح الأحكام من بلوغ المرام، لعبدالله بن عبد الرحمن البسام، مكتبة الأسدي، مكة، ط الخامسة 1423هـ.
تمام المنة في التعليق على فقه السنة، ناصر الدين الألباني، دار الراية، ط3 ، 1409هـ.
كشف الأستار عن زوائد البزار على الكتب الستة، نور الدين علي بن أبي بكر الهيثمي، تحقيق: حبيب الرحمن الأعظمي، مؤسسة الرسالة ط1، بيروت، 1399هـ.
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