Performing Salah in an Airplane – Complete Guidelines
(Source: Fatāwā Arkān al-Islām)
❖ Obligation of Salah in an Airplane
◈ As soon as the time for a prayer begins, whether a person is on land or in an airplane, the prayer becomes obligatory.
Rulings for Performing Obligatory Prayer in an Airplane
If Conditions Like on Land Are Not Possible:
If a traveler cannot perform Salah in the same manner as on the ground, then:
① He should delay the prayer if:
- The airplane will land before the prayer time ends.
- Or if it is possible to combine two prayers (Jam’).
Example:
If the plane departs from Jeddah just before sunset and the sun sets during the flight, the traveler should not pray Maghrib in the air. Instead, wait until landing.
However, if there is a fear of time ending, he should intend to combine Maghrib with ʿIshā’.
② If the plane remains in continuous flight and there is a risk of ʿIshā’ time ending (which lasts until midnight), the traveler must perform both Maghrib and ʿIshā’ in the airplane before the time ends.
Method of Performing Obligatory Salah in an Airplane
➊ Stand facing the Qiblah.
➋ Begin with Takbīrat al-Iḥrām.
➌ Recite Duʿāʾ al-Istiftāḥ (according to Sunnah).
➍ Recite Sūrat al-Fātiḥah.
➎ Recite some verses from the Qur’an.
➏ Perform Rukūʿ.
➐ Rise from Rukūʿ.
➑ Perform Sujūd.
◈ If Sujūd is not possible, perform it while seated, indicating by lowering the head.
➒ Complete the rest of the prayer facing the Qiblah.
Method of Performing Voluntary (Nafl) Salah in an Airplane
◈ Nafl prayer may be performed while seated in the seat.
◈ Rukūʿ and Sujūd should be done by gesture.
◈ In Sujūd, bow lower than in Rukūʿ.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
