Such statements arise from ignorance or complacency. The prayer must be performed within its appointed time to the best of one’s ability, and it is impermissible to postpone it beyond that time. Attention must be paid to this matter and people should be reminded of it. Hospitals, therefore, ought to provide religious instruction and monitor the patients’ observance of the prayer and other obligatory acts that need clarification.

What has been set out above applies to the person who begins the prayer with a valid excuse and remains in that state until he finishes. As for the one who starts the prayer able to stand and then becomes incapable, or who begins unable to stand and later regains the ability during the prayer; the one who begins while seated and then can no longer sit, or who begins on his side and later becomes able to sit—each of these must shift to the form appropriate to his new condition and complete the prayer in that manner. This is obligatory because Allah the Exalted says, “So fear Allah as much as you are able” (Quran 64:16). Thus, whoever becomes able to stand should do so, and whoever becomes unable to stand should sit during the prayer, and so on.

If a person can stand and sit but cannot bow and prostrate, he should bow by inclining his head while standing and prostrate by inclining it lower while seated, thereby distinguishing between the two movements as far as he can.

A patient may also pray lying on his back, even though he is able to stand, if a reliable Muslim physician tells him, “Your treatment is only possible if you pray while lying down,” because