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Adjusting Praying Position if in Pain

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by Albalagh.net

Adjusting Praying Position if in Pain

By Moulana Imraan Vawda


Q.) I would like to get your opinion on the performance of Salat if one is in pain. I am suffering from some pain in my upper back, which sometime becomes aggravated in my left shoulder and arm. In that case, I try not to bend too low in rukoo’ and sometimes I elevate my sujood area with a thick pillow to ward off the pressure from my shoulders. I then place my hands under the pillow or at the side of my head for sujood.

I do this only in the sunnah or the longer taraweeh prayers– the fardh I try to perform as is usual. Please advise me if my adjustmensts are acceptable or not. I do not want to perform my prayers sitting because Alhamdulillah there is no pain otherwise.


A.) In such circumstances, perform Salat sitting and for Ruku bend slightly, and for Sajdah bend a little more.

The Sajdah will be made in the air by means of gesture. Do not make Sajdah on the pillow. And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best

This answer was collected from Albalagh.net, which is an Islamic site with Q&A and articles authored by many world renowned scholars from the Muslim world. Many of Mufti Taqi Uthmani’s fatawa in English are found exclusively on this site.

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