or it may be in his head, such that when he lowers his head the pain intensifies and he becomes distressed by it. In that case, we say: Here, he should gesture for prostration, making the gesture for prostration lower than that for bowing, so that prostration may be distinguished from bowing, and because this is the position of one who is able: the one prostrating is on the ground, whereas the one bowing is above it. This applies when he is seated.

If he is lying on his side, he gestures for bowing and prostration. But how is this gesture made? Does he gesture with his head toward the ground, such that he is like one turning away, or does he gesture with his head toward his chest?

The answer is that he gestures with his head toward his chest, because gesturing toward the ground involves a degree of turning away from the qiblah. Gesturing toward the chest, by contrast, preserves his orientation toward the qiblah. Thus, while lying on his side, he inclines his head slightly toward his chest for bowing, and inclines it further for prostration.

“If he is unable, he gestures with his eyes,” ...........

His statement, “If he is unable, he gestures with his eyes,” means that when he becomes unable to gesture with his head, he gestures with his eyes. When he wishes to bow, he closes his eyes slightly; then, when he says, “Allah hears whoever praises Him,” he opens his eyes. When he prostrates, he closes them further. There is a hadith from the Prophet, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him: “If he is unable, he should gesture with his eyelid.” (1) However, this hadith is weak. For this reason, many scholars did not adopt this view and said: If he is unable to gesture with his head, the physical acts are waived for him.

Some scholars said: If he is unable to gesture with his head, the prayer itself is waived for him. Thus, there are three views: