09/11/2023
Those who are unable to pray standing due to a disability, old age and so on, then they are permitted to pray while seated, either on the floor if that is easy, or on a suitable chair. If they are praying seated on a chair throughout the prayer, then they should have the chair such that their chest and shoulders are level and in line with the people in the row (as is normal) so long as they are not harming the sajdah of the person (or persons) behind them.
But if sitting on a chair like this causes harm to those behind them, and it causes them to be constricted in their rukoo’ and sajdah (or unable to make sajdah) due to the position of the chair, then the chair must be pushed forward to remove the harm from the one praying behind him. The proof for this is the principle: “The removal of harm takes precedence over bringing about good.” (Al-Ashbāh wan-Nadhā’ir of As-Subkī 1/105) And the hadeeth of the Prophet (salallāhu ‘laihi wasallam): “It not permitted to cause harm or reciprocate harm.” (Al-Muwatta of Mālik 2/745, Ad-Dāruqutni 4/228, Al-Hākim 2/57, Al-Bayhaqī 6/69, the hadeeth is hasan).
And if anyone deliberately harms the prayer of another, he is sinful. So in this situation, he must move the chair forward to prevent harming others. In this case, the back feet of the chair should be in line with the feet of the people next to him.
