As a Muslim, prayer is an obligation that must be carried out to get the pleasure of Allah SWT and is a pillar of Islam that must be lived. Of course, as a Muslim, it is not permissible to leave prayer under any circumstances, even if it is only one time. Even in the midst of illness, prayer can still be done and it is still obligatory to carry it out.
Pain is something that must be experienced by humans, but as a Muslim being sick is not a barrier to leaving prayer, even Allah SWT gives relief to sick people to run it as best they can. The relief is in the form of tayammum and being able to pray in a sitting or lying position for those who are seriously ill and cannot stand up.
As it is written in the Qur’an Surah Albaqoroh verse 185 that “God wants ease and does not want difficulty for you (servant).”
In the following, we discuss from various sources regarding the procedures for worshiping the sick (praying lying down) starting with purification, let’s see:
Purification for the Sick
Purification is a condition for performing prayers because by doing ablution it will eliminate minor hadast. But what happens if someone who is sick cannot be exposed to water because it will increase the severity of his illness?
Do I have to do ablution or is there another way?
If a person is unable to take ablution water because of an obstacle or is worried that his illness will get worse, then that person is allowed to do tayamum (purification with soil). Here’s the correct tayammum procedure:
a. Read the prayer first and then intend to perform tayammum, then both palms are pressed on the ground or a dusty wall and the fingers are squeezed together.
Intentions read when performing tayammum:
Nawaytutayammuma li istibaakhati prayer lillahita’ala.
Meaning: “I intend to do tayammum so that I can perform the fardlu prayer for Allah taala.”
b. Wiping the face with soil or dust. It is recommended to evenly distribute the dust on all parts of the face.
c. Press both palms on the ground or dust back, fingers spread apart.
d. Rub the palm of the left hand to the back of the right arm to the elbow. Then, turn your left palm to the inside of your right arm. Wipe the part up to the wrist. Then continue from the palm of the right hand to rub the back of the left hand to the elbow.
e. Wipe the inside of the left thumb to the back of the right thumb. Do the same with the left hand.
f. Next, bring your palms together and rub them between your fingers.
g. Read the prayer after tayammum. Prayer after tayammum is the same as after ablution, namely:
AshhaduAllaaIlaahaIllalloohuWandahuuLaa. SyariikaLahuWaAshhadu Anna Muhammadan ‘AbduhuuwaRosuuluhuu, Alloohummaj’alnii Interests TawwaabiinaWaj’alniiMinalMutathohhiriin.
Which means: “I testify/confess that there is no god but Allah, the Almighty, there is no partner for Him, and I confess that Muhammad is the servant and Messenger of Allah. O Allah, make me from among those who repent and make me from among those who are pure (pious).”
h. If the sick person has a wound or is in a cast, then just wipe the water once instead of washing it.
i. Make sure the sick person wears clean clothes when going to pray. Not exposed to unclean or dirt that can cancel. If it is not possible, then you can pray as little as possible.
j. Pray in a holy place too, if there is unclean it should be replaced or cleaned. You can also spread a clean cloth for the prayer mat.
Procedure for the Lying Position Prayer
The condition for praying in a lying position can be done if a sick person cannot pray sitting down. Performed with a supine sleeping position, face facing the Qibla and a higher pillow position. The following is the procedure for praying lying down:
1. How to do rukuk simply move the head forward or slightly bend.
2. How to do prostration by moving the head deeper forward or more bowed. If there is pain that blocks both movements, such as a neck in a cast. Sick people can do this by signaling the eyes to be opened and closed instead of movement.
3. The sleeping position can also be by tilting the body to the right or towards the Qiblat. The movements of bowing and prostration are the same.
4. If all of the above methods are not possible at all, sick people can pray in their hearts, as long as the mind and soul are still there.
If a sick person finds it difficult, it is also permissible to pray with taqdim. Like combining the Dzuhur and Asr prayers at the time of the Dzuhur call to prayer. Furthermore, the procedure for praying for sick people who are being treated abroad, it is also permissible to perform them by means of menqashar prayers. So that you can do the Dzuhur, Asr, and Isha prayers, just 2 cycles.
Reading the Five Times Prayer
Every prayer has a different intention. The following is the reading of intentions in the five daily prayers, namely:
1. Fajr Prayer
Fajr prayer is performed at the earliest i.e. from the dawn of dawn and ends until the sun rises. The number of rak’ahs for the morning prayer is 2 rakaat. The following is the reading of the intention of the dawn prayer, namely:
“Ushollifardhashubhirak’atainimustaqbilalqiblatiadaa’anlillaahita’aala”.
It means: “I intend to perform the fardufajr prayer, two rak’ahs, facing the Qibla, on time, because of Allah ta’ala”.
2. Zuhur prayer
Then there is the midday prayer, which is done in the middle of the day or at noon when the sun is directly overhead until the shadow is longer than the object. The number of rak’ahs for the midday prayer is 4 rak’ahs. The following is the reading of the intention for the midday prayer, namely:
“Ushollifardhadzuhriarba’araka`aatinmustaqbilalqiblatiadaa`anlillaahita’aala”.
Meaning: “I intend to pray the fardudzuhur prayer, four rak’ahs, facing the Qibla, on time, because of Allah ta’ala”.
3. Asr prayer
Asr prayer is performed when the length of the shadow of the object has exceeded the object until the sun goes down. The number of rak’ahs for the Asr prayer is 4 cycles. Here is the reading of the intention, namely:
“Ushollifardha ‘ashriarba’araka’aatinmustaqbilalqiblatiadaa’anlillaahita’aala”.
Meaning: “I intend to pray farduAsr, four rak’ahs, facing the Qibla, on time, because of Allah ta’ala”.
4. Maghrib prayer
Maghrib prayer is performed starting from the setting of the sun, until the red mega in the sky is no longer visible. There are 3 rak’ahs for the Maghrib prayer. Here is the reading of the intention, namely:
“Ushollifardhamaghribitsalaatsaraka`aatinmustaqbilalqiblatiadaa`anlillaahita’aala”.
Meaning: “I intend to pray fardumaghrib, three rak’ahs, facing the Qibla, on time, because of Allah ta’ala”.
5. Isha prayer
The last fardu prayer, namely the Isha prayer, starts when the sky is getting dark (the time for the Maghrib prayer ends) until the sun rises and there are 4 cycles in total.
Here is the reading of the intention, namely:
“Ushollifardha ‘isyaa`iarba’araka`aatinmustaqbilalqiblatiadaa`anlillaahita’aala”.
Meaning: “I intend to pray farduisya, four rak’ahs, facing the Qibla, on time, because Allah ta’alaazzawajalla”.
