عن جابر بن عبد الله رضي الله عنهما : أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عاد مريضا، فرآه يصلي على وِسَادَةٍ، فأخذها فَرَمَى بها، فأخذ عودًا ليُصلي عليه، فأخذه فَرَمَى به وقال: «صَلِّ على الأرض إن استطعت، وَإِلا فَأَوْمِئْ إِيمَاءً، واجْعَلْ سجودك أخفَضَ من ركُوُعك».
Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) visited a sick person and saw him pray on a pillow. He took the pillow and threw it away. The man took it, again with the intention to pray on it, and the Messenger of Allah once again threw it away. He then said: "Pray on the ground if you are able to; and if not, then use gestures and make your prostration lower than your bowing."
This noble Hadīth demonstrates how a sick person who is unable to place his forehead on the ground can pray. He is obligated to pray according to his ability and is allowed to use gestures instead of bowing and prostration, but his prostration should be lower than his bowing.