Home
Discover Islam
Quran Recitations
Lectures
Fatwa
Articles
Fiqh
E-Books
Women
Boys & Girls 
Enter Question
View By Subject
Fatwa Of The Week
Selected Fatwa
Fatwa CenterHow to offer prayer lying on one's side
Question
Greetings. How to offer prayer in position of ‘lying down’ as mentioned in Quran in 3.191. Reply me as soon as possible. Its urgent!
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
Allaah says (what means): {Who remember Allaah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides…}[Quran 3:191] According to the interpretation that says that this refers to praying while lying on the side for whoever is unable to stand in prayer, then praying on one’s side means leaning on one’s right side with his face turned to the direction of the Qiblah, in the same manner the deceased is put in the grave. If one is not able to do this [i.e. to lean on his right side], then he may lean on his left side, and if again he could not do so, he may pray lying on his back with his legs to the direction of the Qiblah.
Praying while lying on one’s side comes in priority to praying while lying on one’s back; this is obligatory according to some jurists, and it is only recommended according to others. According to the latter opinion, if one prays lying on his back while he is able to lie on his side, then his prayer is valid but this is disliked.
The Fiqh Encyclopedia reads: “If a sick person is unable to stand or to sit at the same time, then he should pray while lying on his side, without specifying his right or left side. This is the view of the Maaliki, Shaafi'i, and Hanbali Schools of jurisprudence, but the Maaliki and Hanbali Schools are of the view that it is better for him to pray on his right side, then on his left side, and if he is not able to pray on either of his sides, then he should pray lying on his back with his feet to the direction of the Qiblah, and gesture with his eyes.”
The Fiqh Encyclopedia also reads: “The view of the majority of the scholars is that if a person is unable to sit down, he should pray lying on his side with his face in the direction of Qiblah, and it is desirable that he lies on his right side, and the scholars provided evidence of the Hadeeth by 'Imraan that was previously mentioned, “…and if you cannot do so, then on your side…”. The apparent view of Maalik in Al-Mudawwanah and Ahmad is that if he prays lying on his back while he is able to pray on his side, then his prayer is valid; but the evidence necessitates that it is not valid because he opposed the command of the Prophet “… then on your side...”…The Hanafi School of jurisprudence is of the view that if a person is not able to sit down, then he should lie on his back while directing his feet to the Qiblah, and gesture with his eyes for Rukoo’ (bowing down) and Sujood (prostration)…Al-Margheenaani is of the view that if he lies down on his side with his face in the direction of the Qiblah, then this is permissible.”
On the other hand, it was said about the interpretation of the verse, {… or [lying] on their sides}, that this is not peculiar to the prayer, but rather it is general. Al-Baghawi said in his Tafseer (interpretation of the Quran): “‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib and Ibn ‘Abbaas 
and An-Nakha'i and Qataadah said: “This is in prayer, he prays standing, and if he is unable, he prays sitting down, and if again he is unable, he prays on his side … and the interpreters of the Quran said that Allaah meant by this to constantly make Thikr (mention of Allaah) in all cases because the human being is in general in one of these three states; this is like the saying of Allaah (which means): {And when you have completed the prayer, remember Allaah standing, sitting, or [lying] on your sides.}[Quran 4:103]" [Abridged]
Allaah Knows best.
Search Fatwa
Fatwa Subject
