Praying Whilst Seated Without an Excuse.

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: Assalam alaykum

I used to pray some of my fard prayers sitting down even though I was able to pray standing. I just felt lazy. Do I have to make up those prayers?

Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,

Yes, you would need to make up the prayers you prayed whilst seated without a genuine, permitting excuse.

‘Imran ibn Husayn reported that the Noble Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Pray standing. If you are unable, then [pray] seated. [And] if you are unable [to do that], then [pray] laying down [on your side].” (Bukhari)

Standing (qiyam) in the prayer is a decisively established obligation which must occur, just like the bowing and prostration. There are of course a limited number of exceptional cases, but this is the general rule.

What I’d suggest is taking some time to ensure that you have sound knowledge of the details of the prayer before proceeding to make up your prayers. You don’t want to be in a situation where you’ve made up many prayers but there was a recurring, problematic issue.

May Allah Most High make things easy, and may He grant you felicity in this life and the next.

(Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah (1.310))

Please also see this answer.

And Allah Most High knows best.

[Ustadh] Tabraze Azam

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Tabraze Azam holds a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Leicester, where he also served as the President of the Islamic Society. He memorised the entire Qur’an in his hometown of Ipswich at the tender age of sixteen, and has since studied the Islamic Sciences in traditional settings in the UK, Jordan and Turkey. He is currently pursuing advanced studies in Jordan, where he is presently based with his family.