What Justifies Praying Seated on a Plane or Train?

Question 

What constitutes a valid excuse for performing the prayer sitting when riding a public mode of transportation such as trains and planes?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate

If performing your prayer standing will cause the violation of the rights of others, the harming of people, or put others in hardship, you are permitted to pray sitting. [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar] 

If the excuse was a mere cause of circumstance and did not stem from the actions of any human, you are not required to repeat the prayer. If, however, you were stopped due to the action of a person, the pray must be repeated thereafter. [Ibid.]

As an example of the above, consider that the prayer time is near to exiting, however, the plane stewardesses are serving the food thus you are unable to perform the prayer; or consider that the prayer time is almost exiting and you need to perform the wudu, however, there is turbulence and the seat belt signs are lit — in both cases circumstances prevented you from performing the prayer properly. Thus you perform the prayer sitting and are not required to repeat them.

Note that the sitting permitted above requires that the prostration still be made on the ground. If this is not possible, one prays with head gestures and repeats the prayer, regardless of the type of prevention. [Ibid.]

Hope this helps

Allah knows best

[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani