Praise be to Allaah.
Yes, it is permissible for
him to join prayers, so he may join Zuhr and ‘Asr, and Maghrib and ‘Isha’,
at the time of the earlier or later prayer, depending on what is easiest for
him. Difficulty caused by sickness is one of the excuses which make it
permissible to join prayers. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) granted a concession to the woman who suffered from istihaadah
(non-menstrual bleeding), and he allowed her to join prayers. Narrated by
Abu Dawood (287) and al-Tirmidhi (128);classed as hasan by al-Albaani in
Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.
Istihaadah is a kind of
sickness, and Imam Ahmad quoted as evidence for it being permissible for a
sick person to join prayers the fact that sickness is worse than travel. He
was treated with cupping after sunset, then he ate supper then he joined
Maghrib and ‘Isha’ prayers. End quote. Kashshaaf al-Qinaa’ (2/5).
Note:
It should be noted that the
sick person for whom it is permissible to join prayers should offer each
prayer in full without shortening it, because shortening the prayers is only
permitted for the traveller. What some people think, that if a person joins
the prayers at home because of sickness he is also allowed to shorten them,
is not correct.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn
Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: The reason for shortening
prayers is travel only, and it is not permitted when one is not travelling.
As for joining prayers when one has an excuse or a need, if he needs to, he
may join them when travelling short or long distances, and he may join them
when it is raining and the like, or when he is sick and the like, or for
other reasons. The aim behind this is to spare the ummah from hardship. End
quote from Majmoo’ al-Fataawa (22/293).
We ask Allaah to heal the
sick Muslims and to bless them with patience and contentment, and compensate
them with good.
And Allaah knows best.