Chapter on the Prayer of the One in Necessity

From him, from Muhammad ibn Isa from Yunus from Ibrahim al-Khazzaz Abu Ayyub from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, who said: I asked Imam al-Sadiq عليه السلام about a man who was unconscious for days, and did not pray, then regained consciousness. Should he make up what he missed? Imam عليه السلام said: “There is nothing (of qadha) upon him.”

Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn Hadid from Murazim who said: I asked Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, about a sick person who is not able to perform the prayer. Imam عليه السلام said: “Whatever Allah سبحانه وتعالى has caused to overcome him (to faint), then Allah سبحانه وتعالى is more entitled to excuse.”

From him, from al-Hajjal from Tha‘labah ibn Maymun from Ma‘mar ibn Umar who said: I asked Abu Ja’far عليه السلام, peace be upon him, about the sick person, does he make up the prayer if he was unconscious? Imam عليه السلام said: “No.”

Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Mahbub from Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Sulayman who said: I wrote to the jurist (faqih) Abu al-Hasan al-Askari عليه السلام, peace be upon him, asking Imam عليه السلام about the one who falls unconscious for a day or more. Does he have to make up the prayers that he missed or not? So Imam عليه السلام wrote: “He does not make up the fast, nor does he make up the prayer.”

Sa’ad from Ayyub ibn Nuh who said: I wrote to Abu al-Hasan al-Thalith عليه السلام (the Third), peace be upon him, asking Imam عليه السلام about the one who falls unconscious for a day or more. Does he have to make up the prayers that he missed or not? So Imam عليه السلام wrote: “He does not make up the fast, nor does he make up the prayer.”

As for what was narrated by al-Husayn ibn Sa'id from al-Hasan from Zur'ah from Sama'ah who said: I asked him about the sick person who falls unconscious. He said: “If three days pass over him, then there is no obligation upon him to make it up; and if he is unconscious for three days, then he must make up the prayers during them.”

Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Mahbub from Yaqub ibn Yazid from Ibn Abi Umayr from Hafs from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, who said: I asked Imam al-Sadiq عليه السلام about the one who falls unconscious. Imam عليه السلام said: “He makes up the prayer of one day.”

From him, from Muhammad ibn Abd al-Jabbar, from Muhammad ibn Sinan, from al-Alaa ibn al-Fudayl, said: I asked Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, about a man who falls unconscious from the day until the night, then regains consciousness. Imam عليه السلام said: “If he regains consciousness before sunset, then he must make up the prayer of that day. But if he remains unconscious for a number of days, then he is only required to make up the prayer of the last of those days, if he regains consciousness before sunset. Otherwise, there is nothing upon him to make up.”

And Ahmad ibn Muhammad narrated from al-Hasan ibn Mahbub from Ali ibn Ri’ab from Abu Basir from one of the two Imams عليه السلام, peace be upon them, who said: I asked Imam عليه السلام about the sick person, who falls unconscious and then regains consciousness, how does he make up his prayer? Imam عليه السلام said: “He makes up the prayer whose time he caught.”

Sa’ad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ibn Abi Umayr from Hammad ibn Uthman from Ubaydullah al-Halabi from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, who said: I asked Imam عليه السلام about the sick person, does he make up the prayer if he falls unconscious? Imam عليه السلام said: “No, except for the prayer during which he regained consciousness.”

Al-Husayn ibn Sa'id from Ibn Abi Umayr from Hafs from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, who said: Imam al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: “He makes up the prayer during which he regained consciousness.”

As for what was narrated by al-Husayn ibn Sa'id from Fadalah from Ibn Sinan from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام: Imam al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: “Everything you left of your prayer due to an illness, in which you were rendered unconscious, make it up when you regain consciousness.”

From him, from Safwan from al-Alaa from Muhammad ibn Muslim from Abu Ja’far عليه السلام, who said: I asked Imam al-Baqir عليه السلام about the man who falls unconscious, and then regains consciousness. Imam عليه السلام said: “He makes up what he missed, he gives the adhan for the first prayer and gives the iqamah for the rest (when making up missed prayers).”

From him, from Safwan from Mansur ibn Hazim from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him: Imam al-Sadiq عليه السلام was asked regarding the one who falls unconscious. Imam عليه السلام said: “He makes up everything that he missed.”

From him, from Ibn Abi Umayr from Rifaa'ah from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, who said: I asked Imam al-Sadiq عليه السلام about the one who falls unconscious for a month, what does he make up of the prayer? Imam عليه السلام said: “He makes up all of it. Indeed, the matter of prayer is severe.”

From him, from Abdullah ibn Muhammad who said: I wrote to him; “May I be ransomed for you, it has been narrated from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, regarding a sick person who becomes unconscious for several days. Some have said he makes up the prayer of the day in which he regains consciousness, and some have said he makes up the prayers of three days and leaves what is beyond that, and some have said that there is no make-up upon him.” So Imam عليه السلام wrote: “He makes up the prayer of the day in which he regains consciousness.”

As for what was narrated by al-Husayn ibn Sa'id from Hammad ibn Isa from Shu'ayb from Abu Basir from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, who said: I asked Imam al-Sadiq عليه السلام about a man who falls unconscious during the day and then regains consciousness before sunset. Imam عليه السلام said: “He performs the Dhuhr and Asr prayers, and if he regains consciousness during the night before dawn, he makes up the night (Isha) prayers.”

Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Nasr from Ibn Bukayr from Muhammad ibn Muslim who said: I asked Abu Ja’far عليه السلام, peace be upon him, about the one suffering from abdominal illness (al-mabtun). Imam عليه السلام said: “He builds upon his prayer.” (meaning performs ablution again, and continues from where he left it)

Muhammad ibn Mas'ud from Muhammad ibn Nusayr from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Ja’far ibn Bashir from Abdullah ibn Bukayr from Muhammad ibn Muslim from Abu Ja’far عليه السلام, peace be upon him, who said: Imam al-Baqir عليه السلام said: “The one afflicted with overpowering abdominal illness (sahib al-batn al-ghalib) performs ablution for his prayer and completes what remains.”

From him, from Muhammad ibn Nusayr from Muhammad ibn Isa from Ibn Abi Umayr from Hammad from al-Halabi from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him: Imam al-Sadiq عليه السلام was asked about the dripping of urine (incontinence). Imam عليه السلام said: “He should place a pouch (khariitah, to absorb), when he prays.”

Al-Husayn ibn Sa'id from al-Hasan from Zur'ah from Sama'ah who said: I asked him about the sick person who is not able to sit. He said: “Then let him pray while lying down, and let him place something on his forehead when he prostrates, for it suffices for him. And Allah سبحانه وتعالى will not burden a soul beyond its capacity.”

From him, from al-Hasan from Zur'ah from Sama'ah who said: I asked him about a man who has water in his eyes and has it removed, and then lies on his back for many days; forty days, less or more and refrains from prayer during those days while he is in that condition. He said: “There is no harm in that, and there is nothing among what Allah سبحانه وتعالى has forbidden except that He عز وجل has made it lawful for the one who is compelled to it.”

Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Mahbub from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Safwan from Iys who said: I asked Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, about a man upon whom a year's worth of prayer has accumulated, due to illness. Imam عليه السلام said: “He does not make them up.”

Ali ibn Ibrahim from his father from Hammad from Hariz from Muhammad ibn Muslim who said: I said to Imam al-Baqir عليه السلام: “A man fell ill and left the supererogatory prayer (al-nafilah).” Imam said: “O Muhammad, it is not an obligation. If he makes it up, then it is a good deed that he does, and if he does not do it, then there is nothing upon him.”

Ali from his father from Abdullah ibn al-Mughirah from Mu'awiyah ibn Maysarah: that Sinan asked Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him: Imam al-Sadiq عليه السلام was asked about a man who stretches out one of his legs in front of him while sitting. Imam عليه السلام said: “There is no problem, and I do not see it except, in the case of someone afflicted (al-mu'tall) or sick (al-marid).”

Muhammad ibn Ahmad from Ahmad ibn al-Hasan from Amr ibn Sa'id from Musaddiq ibn Sadaqah from Ammar from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, who said: I asked Imam al-Sadiq عليه السلام about the sick person, whether it is permissible for him to stand on his bed and prostrate on the ground? Imam عليه السلام said: “If the bed is thick to the extent of a brick (ajurrah) or less, then it is correct for him to stand on it and prostrate on the ground. But if it is more than that, then no.”

Muhammad ibn Mas'ud from Hamdawayh from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from al-Hasan ibn Mahbub from Abu Ayyub from Isma'il ibn Jabir who said: I heard Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, saying, and a man asked him about a person upon whom the prayer becomes due while he is in water, wading through it, and he is not able to reach the ground. Imam عليه السلام said: “If he is in war or on a path among the paths of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, then let him gesture with indication (yumi’ ima’an, with his head or eyes). But if he is on a trade journey, then it was not proper for him to enter the water until he had prayed.” He (narrator) said: “I asked: ‘What should he do?’” Imam عليه السلام said: “He must make it up when he comes out of the water, and indeed he has been neglectful (of prayer).”

Sa’ad from Muhammad ibn Khalid al-Tayalisi from Ibrahim ibn Abi Ziyad al-Karkhi who said: I said to Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him: “An old man is unable to stand, to go to the toilet, and he cannot perform bowing (rukuh) and prostration (sujud).” Imam عليه السلام said: “Then let him gesture with his head by indication (ima'a), and if there is someone who can raise the khumrah (a small prayer mat or place of prostration) to him, then let him prostrate on it. If that is not possible for him, then let him gesture with his head in the direction of the qiblah by indication.” I asked: “And what about fasting?” Imam عليه السلام said: “If he has reached that condition, then Allah سبحانه وتعالى has lifted the obligation from him. But if he is able, then giving in charity a mudd of food in place of each day is more beloved to me. And if he does not have the means for that, then there is nothing upon him.”

Sa’ad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Isma'il ibn Bazi' from Tha'labah ibn Maymun from Hammad ibn Uthman from Abdurrahman ibn Abi Abdillah from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, who said: Imam al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: “One does not perform the obligatory prayer on a riding animal except a sick person, who faces the qiblah with it, and Surah al-Fatihah suffices him. For the obligatory prayer, he should place his face on whatever he is able to from anything, and in the supererogatory prayer, he gestures by indication (ima'a).”

Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Ashyam from Mansur ibn Hazim who said: Ahmad ibn al-Nu'man asked Imam عليه السلام, saying: “I pray in my litter (mahmil) while I am ill” Imam عليه السلام said: “As for the supererogatory prayer, then yes (it is allowed); but as for the obligatory prayer, then no.” He (Mansur) said: “And Ahmad mentioned the severity of his pain, so he said: ‘I was severely ill, and I used to instruct them when the time of prayer arrived to make the camel kneel for me, and I would be carried on my bed and placed down, and I would pray. Then I would be carried on my bed and placed back in my litter’.”

Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Hilal from Yunus ibn Abd al-Rahman from Abdullah ibn Sinan who said: I said to Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him: “May a man perform any of the obligatory prayers while riding?” Imam عليه السلام said: “No, except out of necessity.”