The sick person’s prayer using hand or finger gestures

Question: A woman was struck by illness several years ago and could only pray by signaling with her finger. When she recovered she made up every prayer that had elapsed during her illness. She then fell ill again, sometimes praying while seated, other times lying down, and at times again signaling with her finger. After recovering she once more made up all those prayers. Is what she did correct or not?

Answer: First, a sick person must pray according to his condition and is not required to make the prayer up afterward. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Pray standing; if you cannot, then sitting; and if you cannot, then on your side.” Hence the sick person performs the prayer as best he can and does not repeat it, for he has fulfilled it to the extent of his ability. Allah the Exalted says, “So fear Allah as much as you are able” (Taghābun 64:16).

Therefore, he should pray standing, or sitting, or lying on his side, and indicate the bowing and prostration with his head. Gesturing with the hand or with the finger, however, has no basis in the Sacred Law and is not considered a prayer. Accordingly, her decision to make those prayers up was correct and obligatory for her, because she had not truly prayed—she was merely pointing with her hand and finger, which is insufficient and not deemed a prayer.

Had she, instead, been nodding with her head for the bowing and prostration because she was unable to do more, her prayer would have been valid and she would not have had to make it up.