Quran
Hadith
Islamic Text
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
In the Name of Allah Most Merciful Most Kind
Short Answer
Praise be to Allah, and may His Peace and Blessings be upon our Master Muhammad ﷺ, his nation of Muslims, his family and his Companions.
Yes, this is permissible.
Explanation
Imam an-Nawawi (d. 676AH) states in al-Majmu’:
قال الشافعي والأصحاب : يجوز للقادر على القيام الصلاة وراء القاعد العاجز ، وللقاعد وراء المضطجع ، وللقادر على الركوع والسجود وراء المومئ بهما ، ولا يجوز للقادر على كل شيء من ذلك موافقة العاجز في ترك القيام أو القعود أو الركوع أو السجود ، ولا خلاف في شيء من هذا عندنا
‘‘Ash-Shafi’i and the As-hab stated, ’It is permitted for the able to stand to pray behind one who is sitting and unable to stand; for the one sitting to pray behind one who is laying down; the one who is able to perform the bowing and prostration to pray behind one who performs gestures in their place. It is not permitted for the one able to do everything mentioned to imitate the one who is unable, be it not standing, or sitting, or bowing or prostrating. There is no difference [amongst our scholars] in this regard with us.’’
This is based on a narration reported by al-Bukhari (no. 418 – 90) and Muslim (no. 687) where the Prophet ﷺ was leading the prayer whilst sitting and Abu Bakr, may Allah be Pleased with him, was standing beside him:
قَالَتْ فَصَلَّى بِهِمْ أَبُو بَكْرٍ تِلْكَ الأَيَّامَ ثُمَّ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَجَدَ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ خِفَّةً فَخَرَجَ بَيْنَ رَجُلَيْنِ أَحَدُهُمَا الْعَبَّاسُ لِصَلاَةِ الظُّهْرِ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ فَلَمَّا رَآهُ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ذَهَبَ لِيَتَأَخَّرَ فَأَوْمَأَ إِلَيْهِ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ لاَ يَتَأَخَّرَ وَقَالَ لَهُمَا ” أَجْلِسَانِي إِلَى جَنْبِهِ ” . فَأَجْلَسَاهُ إِلَى جَنْبِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يُصَلِّي وَهُوَ قَائِمٌ بِصَلاَةِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَالنَّاسُ يُصَلُّونَ بِصَلاَةِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَالنَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَاعِدٌ
‘…Abu Bakr was leading the people in prayer. When Abu Bakr saw him. he began to withdraw, but the Messenger of Allah ﷺ told him not to withdraw. He told his two (companions) to seat him down beside him (Abu Bakr). They seated him by the side of Abu Bakr. Abu Bakr said the prayer standing while following the prayer of the Prophet ﷺ and the people Bald prayer (standing) while following the prayer of Abu Bakr. The Prophet ﷺ was seated…’
And Allah Most High Knows Best.
–Answered by Shaykh Mohammed Jamili (03.04.24)
