Qiyaam in Salah

The posture of Qiyaam (standing) in Salah is Farz (obligatory) in the Salah of Farz, Waajib and also in the two Sunnah of the Salah of Fajr. A person does not have the right to perform these Salah sitting without a valid reason. Otherwise, his Salah will not be valid.

A person must stand in such a way that if he stretches his hands to hold his knees, his hands won't reach the knees. If a person bends or lowers himself to such an extent that his hands can reach his knees, then his Salah will not be valid because standing in such a way does not fulfill the condition of Qiyaam. Thus, it is a Salah which has been performed without Qiyaam.

A sick person and Qiyaam

A person, who cannot stand to perform Salah because of a certain illness or because standing can aggravate his illness, is allowed to perform Salah in the sitting posture. Qiyaam is not obligatory on this type of person. Likewise, Qiyaam is not obligatory on a person who cannot perform Sajdah in the normal way. That is, a person who has an injury or a wound that bleeds when he performs Sajdah, is allowed to perform Sajdah by sign. And when he is allowed to perform Sajdah by sign, it means that Qiyaam also is not Farz on him. Thus, he can sit to perform Salah. And, it is better for him to sit than stand. In this case, he should perform Sajdah by indication.

If the standing posture makes a person's wound bleed or makes his urine drip, then he must perform Salah sitting. And if he can make Sajdah in the normal way, he must do it. In this case he cannot do it by indication.

[English version of "Qiyaam dans namaz" – Al Jamiat – Vol.5 No.12]