Chapter on the Prayer in the Ship

Muhammad ibn Yaqub from Ali ibn Ibrahim from his father from Hammad ibn Isa. He said: I heard Aba Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, being asked about prayer on a ship. Imam عليه السلام said: “If you are able to go out onto dry land, then go out. But if you are not able, then pray standing, and if you cannot, then pray sitting. And strive to face the qiblah.”

Al-Husayn ibn Said from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad al-Jawhari from Ibn Abi Hamzah from Ali ibn Ibrahim said: I asked Imam عليه السلام about prayer on a boat. Imam عليه السلام said: “He should pray while sitting if he is unable to stand in the boat, and he should not pray in the boat if he is able to reach the shore.” And Imam عليه السلام said: “He should pray in the boat, turning his face towards the qiblah, then he may continue the prayer however the boat turns.”

From him, from Ibn Abi Umayr, from Abu Ayyub. He said: I said to Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him: “We were afflicted with a situation, and we were on a boat, and evening came upon us while we were unable to find a place where we could disembark.” So Imam عليه السلام said: “The people of the boat do not pray during the day, as long as they hope to disembark.” Then Imam عليه السلام said: “My father (Imam al-Baqir عليه السلام) used to say: ‘That is the prayer of Nuh عليه السلام, peace be upon him.’ And are you not pleased to pray the prayer of Nuh عليه السلام?” I said: “Yes, may I be your ransom.” Imam عليه السلام said: “Do not let your heart be constricted, for Nuh عليه السلام prayed on the boat.” I asked: “While standing or sitting?” Imam عليه السلام said: “Rather, (it was whilst) standing.” I asked: “Sometimes I face the qiblah, then the boat turns.” Imam عليه السلام said: “Strive to face the qiblah with the best of your effort.”

From him, from Muhammad ibn Sinan, from Ibn Muskan, from Sulayman ibn Khalid. He (Sulayman) said: “I asked Imam عليه السلام about prayer on a boat.” Imam عليه السلام said: “He should pray while standing, and if he is unable to stand, then let him sit and pray while facing the qiblah. If the boat turns, then let him turn with the qiblah if he is able to do so, and if he is not able to do so, then let him remain in his place and strive to face the qiblah with the best of his effort.” And Imam عليه السلام said: “He should pray the supererogatory prayer facing the front of the boat, while he is facing the qiblah when he says the takbir, and it does not harm him wherever the boat turns afterward.”

Muhammad ibn Yaqub from Muhammad ibn Yahya from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Yazid ibn Ishaq from Harun ibn Hamzah al-Ghanawi from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him. He said: I asked Imam al-Sadiq عليه السلام about prayer on a boat. Imam عليه السلام said: “If it is loaded and heavy, such that when you stand in it, it does not sway, then pray standing. But if it is light and sways, then pray sitting.”