Do I Have To Pray During A Psychotic Episode?

Question:

Do I have to pray during a psychotic episode?

Answer:

Wa ‘alaykum assalam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.

I pray that Allah gives you wellbeing on every level. It must be a very difficult test for you.

The Good That Comes From Tests

This is a test; one that you will see much good from in the Akhira. For now, trust that it is wiping your sins away and raising your rank with Allah. Please look at this answer too. It might provide you with some insight into your situation.

Religious Obligations During Psychotic Episodes

Jurists and Legal Theorists have defined insanity as a state in which the mind is impaired, and thus, the affected individual is not able to act or speak in a normal, rational manner. It also prevents one from distinguishing between good and bad matters and their consequences. [Mahbubi, al-Tawdih, Taftazani, al-Talwih]

Therefore, if the above fits the description of your episodes, then you would not be obliged to pray during them. If the episode lasts for more than a day (the time of 5 prayers), you would not have to make them up either. Otherwise, you should try to pray them when you feel better. [Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah, Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]

Given the seriousness of your condition, there is no rush. Maybe asking someone to help you keep a written record for future reference will help.

Keep Looking For Relief

I urge you to keep looking for a way out of this difficult situation. Keep consulting with specialists in the field. Perhaps medication or some other means of treatment can help you.

Think of this as Allah’s way of facilitating entry into the Garden for you. Recall the lady who asked the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) to pray that her epilepsy would be removed. He, in turn, told her that if she is patient with it she will have the Garden in return. [Bukhari] Compare that situation to yours. They are very similar, so it is very likely that the outcome would be the same.

With the severity of your current situation, please contact a local mental health professional to assist you as soon as possible.

May Allah remove all difficulties from you and grant you the best of this life and the next.

[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History he moved to Damascus in 2007 where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.