Is It Permissible for an Uber Driver or University Student to Pray While Sitting on a Chair or Car Seat, or Must They Stand?

Question: If a person is working on uber or is at his college campus Is it ok to just pray while sitting on a chair or in car seat or does he have to pray standing?

Summary:

It is not permissible for a Muslim to perform an obligatory prayer while sitting on a chair or car seat if he is capable of standing, because standing is one of the pillars of the obligatory prayer, and the prayer is not valid without it except when there is a legitimate excuse under Shariah. As for voluntary prayers, it is permissible to perform them while sitting, even if the person is capable of standing. However, the reward of one who stands is greater than that of one who sits.

Answer:

First: Evidence from the Noble Quran

From the Qur'an:

[Surah Al-Baqarah 2:238]
"Guard strictly the prayers, especially the middle prayer, and stand before Allah with obedience."
Point of evidence: Allah, the Most High, commanded standing in prayer, and the basic principle regarding a command is that it indicates obligation. Therefore, standing is one of the pillars of the obligatory prayer for whoever is capable of it.
[Surah At-Taghabun 64:16]
"So fear Allah as much as you are able."
Point of evidence: A Muslim must perform the prayer while standing as long as he is capable of doing so. If he is unable to stand due to a legitimate excuse under Shariah, he prays according to his ability.

Second: Evidence from the Prophetic Sunnah. 1. The obligation of standing during obligatory prayers

From the Sunnah:

Narrated by Al-Bukhari in his Sahih.Imran ibn Husayn رضي الله عنه said: "I was suffering from hemorrhoids, so I asked the Prophet ﷺ about prayer, and he said:
'Pray standing, and if you cannot, then sitting, and if you cannot, then on your side.'"
Point of evidence: The Prophet ﷺ made standing obligatory for those capable of it and did not permit sitting except when a person is unable to stand. 2. The permissibility of sitting during voluntary prayers:
Narrated by Muslim in his Sahih.Abdullah ibn Amr رضي الله عنهما said: "I was informed that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
'The prayer of a man while sitting is half of the prayer.'"
Point of evidence: It is permissible for someone capable of standing to perform voluntary prayers while sitting, but the reward is half that of someone who prays standing. As for someone unable to stand due to a legitimate excuse under Shariah, his reward is not reduced because of his inability.

Third: The Ruling on the Prayer of an Uber Driver and a University Student: 1. Uber driver: If the time for an obligatory prayer begins while he is working as a driver, he must stop in a safe place, get out of the vehicle, and pray standing while facing the Qiblah, performing bowing, prostration, and all the other pillars of the prayer. It is not permissible for him to perform the obligatory prayer while sitting in the car seat merely because he is busy with work or fears losing some passengers or earnings. 2. A student on a university campus: A student must perform the obligatory prayer while standing if he is capable of doing so. It is not permissible for him to pray while sitting on a chair merely because he is at university, feels embarrassed in front of people, or because there is no designated prayer area. Rather, he should pray in any permissible, clean place where he is able to fulfill the conditions and pillars of the prayer. 3. Voluntary prayers: It is permissible for both the driver and the student to perform voluntary prayers while sitting, even if they are capable of standing. However, standing is better and carries a greater reward. As for voluntary prayers performed in a vehicle, it is permissible to perform them while sitting, particularly when traveling, while observing the rulings concerning facing the Qiblah and ensuring that praying while driving does not cause danger or distract the driver from the road. Fourth: When Is It Permissible to Perform an Obligatory Prayer While Sitting? It is permissible to perform an obligatory prayer while sitting when a person is unable to stand, such as someone who is ill and cannot stand, or someone who would experience severe, unusual hardship by standing. However, merely being occupied with work or studies, limited space, or embarrassment in front of people are not valid excuses for abandoning standing when one is capable of it. If a person is genuinely unable to leave the vehicle due to a legitimate excuse, fears that the prayer time will expire, and has no way of performing the prayer in its usual manner, then he should pray according to his ability and must not delay the prayer beyond its prescribed time. Conclusion: Standing is one of the pillars of the obligatory prayer. Therefore, it is not permissible for an Uber driver or university student to perform an obligatory prayer while sitting if they are capable of standing. Whoever performs an obligatory prayer while sitting without a legitimate excuse under Shariah, his prayer is invalid, and he must repeat it. As for voluntary prayers, it is permissible to perform them while sitting even when capable of standing. However, the reward of the one who sits is half that of the one who stands, except for someone who has a valid excuse.

And Allah knows best.

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Is It Permissible for an Uber Driver or University Student to Pray While Sitting on a Chair or Car Seat, or Must They Stand?

Summary:

From the Qur'an:

From the Sunnah:

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