Prayer TimesPeople are only responsible for what they are able to do. Indeed, our religion does not burden a person with more than they can bear. Therefore, a person is obliged to do whatever is within their capacity (al-Hajj, 22/78; al-Fath, 48/17). Allah the Almighty states in the Qur'an, “Allah does not burden any soul beyond its capacity” (al-Baqarah, 2/286). This principle applies both to the obligation of acts of worship and to their performance. For example, prayer is not obligatory for someone who is not of sound mind.
Accordingly, a person who is unable to perform ablution and has no one to assist them should perform their prayers by making tayammum. If a person whose arms and legs are sound is unable to use clean water or clean earth, or is severely ill, and cannot perform ablution or tayammum by themselves and cannot find anyone to help, then even if they are not in a state of ritual purity, they should, if possible, perform the movements of prayer out of respect for the prayer time, and later make up the prayers when they recover (Haskafī, ad-Durr al-Mukhtār, 2/102). This is the accepted view in the Shafi'i school (Nawawī, al-Majmū‘, 11/323). According to the Hanbalis, however, it is permissible to pray in this state and there is no need to make up the prayers later (Ibn Qudāmah, al-Mughnī, 1/184).
If a person has neither arms nor legs and is unable to perform ablution and has no one to assist them, and is also unable to perform tayammum, then they are not obliged to perform ablution or tayammum. They should consider themselves as if they are in a state of purity and perform their prayers in whatever way they are able. There is no requirement for them to make up these prayers later (Ibn Nujaym, al-Bahr, 2/125; Ibn ‘Ābidīn, Radd al-Muhtār, 1/102).
Source: T.C. Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı, Din İşleri Yüksek Kurulu
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