Q: If the sunnah muakkadah and ghair muakkadah prayers are performed sitting down on a chair and the ruku and sujood is done bowing sitting on a chair, is the salaah valid?
A: It is not permissible for one to perform the fardh, waajib and two rakaats sunnah muakkadah of fajr sitting on the ground without a valid excuse.
As far as other salaah are concerned e.g. nafl, sunnah muakkadah salaah, sunnah ghair muakkadah salaah, then it is permissible for one to perform these salaah sitting on the ground and making the sajdah on the ground without a valid excuse.
However, if one performs these salaah sitting on the ground and making sajdah on the ground without a valid excuse, then one will only receive half the reward as compared to performing the salaah standing. Nevertheless, if one performs these salaah sitting on the ground due to a valid excuse, then one will receive the full reward.
As for performing salaah sitting on the chair, then since the sajdah is not done on the ground, but rather the sajdah is done with gestures, it is not permissible for one to perform any salaah (whether fardh, sunnah muakkadah or ghair muakkadah or nafl salaah) in this manner without a valid excuse (e.g. one experiencing difficulty sitting on the ground, or one being unable to bend down due to back pain, or one being unable to make sajdah on the ground, etc.).
Hence, if one performs the salaah sitting on the chair without a valid excuse, the salaah will not be valid. The salaah will only be valid if one performs the salaah sitting on a chair with a valid excuse.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
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Answered by:
Checked & Approved:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)
Q: If the sunnah muakkadah and ghair muakkadah prayers are performed sitting down on a chair and the ruku and sujood is done bowing sitting on chair, you mentioned in the Fatwa that the Salah isn't valid if prayed without a valid excuse, my question is will it be compulsory to do Qaza of the prayed salah?
A: Since the salaah is commenced sitting on a chair, the commencement is valid. Thereafter, when one performs the sajdah with gestures (without a valid excuse), the salaah becomes invalid. Due to the salaah being commenced correctly, qadha will have to be made.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
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