Dr. Ahmed Wasam, Secretary of Fatwa at Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta, responded to a question on the institution’s official Facebook page regarding whether illness justifies missing prayers.
He explained that sickness never exempts a person from prayer. A patient must pray in whatever position they can — standing, sitting, lying down, or even with their eyes if movement is impossible — as long as they are conscious and aware.
Wasam cited the Quranic verse “Fear Allah as much as you are able” (At-Taghabun: 16), highlighting that religious obligations are always tied to one’s capacity. Thus, no matter the illness, as long as the person has awareness, prayer remains obligatory.
Scholars have agreed that any missed prayers due to misunderstanding should be made up once the person recovers, accompanied by repentance and seeking forgiveness. However, if the prayers were intentionally abandoned out of neglect, sincere repentance is required without the need to make them up, as prayer is the very pillar of Islam.
