Liaison office of Grand Ayatullah Sayyid Ali Al Sistani (L.M.H.L) in London, Europe, North and South America.
967. To stand erect while saying Takbiratul Ehram, and to stand before
the Ruku (which is called qiyam muttasil ba ruku') is the Rukn of the prayers.
But, standing while reciting Surah al-Hamd and the other Surah and standing
after performing the Ruku, is not Rukn and if a person omits it inadvertently,
his prayers are in order.
968. It is obligatory for a person to stand awhile before and after
pronouncing Takbir, so as to ensure that he has pronounced the Takbir while
standing.
969. If a person forgets to perform Ruku, and sits down after reciting
Hamd and Surah, and then remembers that he has not performed Ruku, he should
first stand up and then go into Ruku. If he does not stand up first, and
performs Ruku while he is bowing, his prayers will be void because of not
having performed qiyam (standing) before Ruku (Qiyam muttasi'l ba Ruku').
970. When a person stands for Takbiratul Ehram or Qir'at (recitation),
he should not move his body, nor should he incline on one side, and as an
obligatory precaution, he should not lean on anything in normal condition.
However, if he is helpless, and is obliged to lean on something, there is no
harm in it.
971. If while standing, a person forgetfully moves his body, or
inclines on one side, or leans on something, there is no harm in it.
972. The obligatory precaution is that at the time of standing for
namaz, both the feet of a person are on the ground. However, it not necessary
that the weight of his body should be on both the feet. If the weight is on
one foot, there is no harm in it.
973. If a person, who can stand properly, keeps his feet so wide that
it may not be considered as standing, or not as normal standing, his prayers
are void.
974. When a person is engaged in obligatory Zikr in the prayers, his
body should be still, and, as an obligatory precaution, it applies to Mustahab
Zikr also. And when he wishes to go a little backward or forward, or to move
his body a little towards right or left, he should not recite anything at that
time.
975. If he recites something Mustahab while in motion, for example,
if he says Takbir while going into Ruku or Sajdah, his Zikr will not be correct
but his namaz will be valid. Bi hawli lahi wa quwwati Aqumu wa Aq'ud should
be said in the state of rising.
976. There is no harm in the movement of hands and fingers at the time
of reciting Hamd, although the recommended precaution is that it should be
avoided.
977. If at the time of reciting Hamd ,Surah orTasbihat, somebody moves
so much involuntarily that the body is no more steady, the recommended
precaution is that after his body resumes steadiness, he should recite again,
all that he has recited while his body moved.
978. If a person becomes unable to stand while offering prayers, he
should sit down, and if he is unable to sit, he should lie down. However, until
his body becomes steady, he should not utter any of the obligatory Zikr.
979. As long as a person is able to offer prayers standing, he should
not sit down. For example, if the body of a person shakes, or moves when he
stands, or he is obliged to lean on something, or to incline his body a bit,
he should continue to offer prayers standing in whatever manner he can. But,
if he cannot stand at all, he should sit upright, and offer prayers in that
position.
980. As long as a person can sit, he should not offer prayers in a
lying posture, and if he cannot sit straight, he should sit in any manner he
can. And if he cannot sit at all, he should lie, as stated in the rules of
Qibla, on his right side.
If he cannot lie on that side, he should lie
on his left side, but as an obligatory precaution, he should not lie on the
left side as long as it is possible for him to lie on the right side. When it
is not possible to lie on either side, then he should lie on his back, with
his feet facing Qibla.
981. If a person is offering prayers in a sitting position, and if
after reciting Hamd and Surah, he is able to stand up and perform Ruku, he
should first stand, and then perform Ruku. But, if he cannot do so, he should
perform Ruku while sitting.
982. If a person, who is offering prayers in a lying position, can sit
during the prayers, he should offer, those parts of the prayers while sitting.
Also, if he can manage to stand, he should offer those parts of the prayers
while standing. But, as long as his body is not still, he should not utter any
of the obligatory Zikr.
983. If a person offering prayers in a sitting position becomes
capable, during prayers, to stand up, he should offer that part of the prayers
which he can, while standing. But as long as his body is not still, he should
not utter any of the obligatory Zikr.
984. If a person who can stand, fears that owing to standing, he will
become ill, or will be harmed, he can offer prayers in a sitting position and
if he fears sitting, he can offer the prayers in a lying posture.
985. If a person had some hope that at the end of the time for namaz,
he will be able to offer prayers standing, he should delay the prayers. If he
prayed at the prime time, and then became capable of standing at the end of
the time, he should pray again. But if he was totally despaired that he would
be able to pray standing, and after praying in the prime time, he later found
himself capable of standing, it will not be obligatory on him to repeat the
prayers.
986. It is Mustahab for the person offering prayers to stand erect,
slacken down his shoulders, place his hands on his thighs, join his fingers
together, look at the place of Sajdah, place the weight of his body equally on
two feet, stand in humility, keep both his feet in line. Men offering prayers
should keep a distance of three open fingers, or a span between his feet, and
women should keep the feet together.