One may solah in manner that is able.

She cannot move her head because of severe pain; how should she pray?

A sister is asking that she has a very strong pain in her head that makes her vomit. When this happens she cannot pray in any position, as she cannot raise her head. How shall she pray when prayer time comes?


In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
All the Praise is to Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala. Peace and Blessings be upon Prophet Muhammad His Messenger.

If the time for prayer comes and she feels pain, then she may delay the prayer until the end of its preferred time, in the hope that she may be able to offer the prayer in the proper manner. But if the pain persists, then she may pray in the manner that she is able to, even if she is laying on her back.

The basic principle concerning it is the verse in which Allah says:

“Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope”

[Al-Baqarah, 2:286].

And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to ‘Imran Ibn Husayn:

“Pray standing, and if you cannot, then sitting, and if you cannot, then (laying) on your side.”

[Narrated by Al-Bukhari (1117) and Abu Dawud (952)]

Keep your duty to Allah

If a person prays sitting, then he should lean forward for ruku’ (bowing) and sujud (prostration), and he should lean forward more for prostration than for bowing.

If a person prays lying down on his right or left side, then he should tilt his head towards his chest for bowing and prostration. If a person prays lying on his back, he should put his feet towards the Qiblah and tilt his head towards his chest for bowing and prostration.

If in the case he is sitting or lying down and could not move his head, then the actions are waived, but the recitations are not waived from him because he is able to say them, and Allah says:

“So keep your duty to Allah and fear Him as much as you can”

[Al-Taghabun, 64:16].

So he should say takbeer and recite Qur’an, and intend to bow and say takbeer and recite the tasbeeh of bowing, then he should intend to stand up and say Sami’a Allaahu liman hamidah, rabbana wa laka’l-hamd (Allah hears the one who praises Him, our Lord to You be praise) etc. Then he should intend to prostrate and say takbeer and the tasbeeh of prostration, because this is what is implied by the shari`e principle, “So keep your duty to Allah and fear Him as much as you can”.

[Al-Sharh al-Mumti’ (4/332)]

And Allah knows best.

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Excerpted from Fatwa No: 102281 Islam Q&A