How to Perform Solah on Plane

Praying the 5 Fard Solah is the most important principle to all Muslims. Alhamdulillah, Allah has given us the concession to shorten (Qasr) and combine (Jam’) the prayers for ease as explained in the earlier section.

Here are some guidelines on how to pray while travelling on a plane. Just follow these instructions:

Some aeroplane that have a large area such as Boeing 747, 757, 777and Airbus provide a prayer area (depending on the airline). Hence, you can choose to pray in that area. This is because there are more fi’liyyah (action) pillars that we can do this way.

During the 5 obligatory prayers, it is obligatory to offer the prayer in whatever manner one can, bowing, prostrating and facing the qiblah if possible. A prayer is INVALID if one does not perform these actions 

1) Bad weather that may lead to aircraft imbalance
2) Space constraints
3) Afraid that the time for prayer will end
4) Prayer that cannot be joined to the prayer that comes before it or after it
5) The aircraft is flying against the direction of the qiblah

You have to face the direction of the Qiblah when you are praying an obligatory prayer, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

You could ask the crew to find out which direction the Qiblah is in, and make the most of the opportunity, once the plane has reached its altitude and settled in its course, to pray standing facing the Qiblah.

If that is not possible, and you can delay the prayer until the plane lands, without delaying it beyond the allotted time, so that you can pray standing and facing the Qiblah on the ground, then you can do that.

If this is not possible because you fear that the time for that prayer will end, then pray as best you can in the plane, and your prayer will be valid. Allaah does not burden any soul with more than it is able to bear. And Allaah is the Source of strength.

If one is not able to pray standing, then it is allowed to sit. “Pray while standing and if you can’t, pray while sitting and you cannot do even that, then pray lying on your side.”

(Sahih Al-Bukhari)