Islamic Ruling on Offering Salah on a Soft Surface
Can Salah be performed on a soft surface such as a bed, mattress, or cushion?
The primary place for performing Salah is the ground, and it is preferable to offer prayers directly on it.
However, it is permissible to perform Salah on soft surfaces like:
◈ Thick prayer mats
◈ Cushions
◈ Beds
◈ Mattresses
With the following conditions:
① Sujūd (prostration) and other pillars of Salah must be performed properly, without obstruction.
② The softness of the surface must not interfere with khushūʿ (humility) and concentration in Salah.
“Wallāhu Aʿlam bis-Ṣawāb”
And Allah knows best what is correct.
Question:
Can Salah be performed on a soft surface such as a bed, mattress, or cushion?
Answer by Shaykh Ikrāmullah Wāhidi (ḥafiẓahullāh):
The primary place for performing Salah is the ground, and it is preferable to offer prayers directly on it.
However, it is permissible to perform Salah on soft surfaces like:
◈ Thick prayer mats
◈ Cushions
◈ Beds
◈ Mattresses
With the following conditions:
① Sujūd (prostration) and other pillars of Salah must be performed properly, without obstruction.
② The softness of the surface must not interfere with khushūʿ (humility) and concentration in Salah.
“Wallāhu Aʿlam bis-Ṣawāb”
And Allah knows best what is correct.