Authentic hadith articlePray while standing; if you cannot, then while sitting; and if you cannot, then while lying on your side
AuthenticNarrated by Al-BukhāriHadeethEnc #10951
Arabic hadith textعن عمران بن حصين رضي الله عنه قال: كَانَتْ بِي بَوَاسِيرُ، فَسَأَلْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنِ الصَّلَاةِ، فَقَالَ:
عن عمران بن حصين رضي الله عنه قال: كَانَتْ بِي بَوَاسِيرُ، فَسَأَلْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنِ الصَّلَاةِ، فَقَالَ: «صَلِّ قَائِمًا، فَإِنْ لَمْ تَسْتَطِعْ فَقَاعِدًا، فَإِنْ لَمْ تَسْتَطِعْ فَعَلَى جَنْبٍ».
English translation‘Imrān ibn Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I was suffering from hemorrhoids (piles); so I asked the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) about the prayer and he said:
‘Imrān ibn Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I was suffering from hemorrhoids (piles); so I asked the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) about the prayer and he said: "Pray while standing; if you cannot, then while sitting; and if you cannot, then while lying on your side."
ExplanationExplanation of the hadith
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) pointed out that the main rule is to pray while standing, except when one is unable to do so, in which case he can pray while sitting, and if he cannot, he can pray while lying on his side.