stand while leaning on a staff, a pillar, or a wall, I can do so; but if I do not lean on something, my legs cannot support me?” We reply: You must stand, even if supported, due to the generality of the evidence.

If he asks, “What is the limit of this? Must I stand fully upright, or is it permissible for me to bend my back somewhat?”

The answer is: If you bend your back to the extent of bowing, then you are not standing, and the prayer is invalid—unless you are unable to do otherwise. But if you bend it slightly, that is sufficient.

If someone asks: “If a person is able to stand but fears for his life if he does so, is he exempted from standing?” The answer is yes, due to Allah’s saying:

“And if you fear, then pray on foot or riding.” [al-Baqarah 2:238–239]

In this case, bowing and prostration—which are two pillars more emphatic than standing—are waived; thus, standing is waived all the more readily.

Issue: If a person is bent over, he must stand, even if he appears to be bowing; standing is not waived for him, because that is his standing. In reality, standing depends upon the uprightness of the back and the uprightness of the legs. If one of these two forms of uprightness is lost, the other remains obligatory.

Issue: If someone asks, “You have said that standing is obligatory even when one is supported. Is it permissible, then, to lean on something?”

The answer is: If he cannot stand except by leaning on something, he may do so. But if he can stand without support, he may not lean on something, unless the support is slight; in that case, there is no harm.

The criterion is this: if, upon removing that which he is leaning on, he would fall;