Chapter: Prayer on Snow

• Ahmad ibn Hanbal was asked about praying on snow? He said: "He may pray upon it and prostrate upon it." It was said: "What about prayer in water and mud?" He said: "He should perform the gesture (of prostration by nodding the head)."

• Ahmad was asked again about praying on snow? He said: "He should spread out a garment and pray." I said: "What if he has nothing with him but the garment that is on his body?" He said: "If it is possible for him to prostrate upon it, he should do so; otherwise, he should gesture (nod)." He added: "If the snow is cold, it is an excuse," and he was lenient regarding it.

• I heard Ishaq say: "If you are praying in snow, intense heat, cold, or mud, and it harms you, then prostrate on your garment, whether it is Friday or otherwise." He said: "And if placing your hands on the ground is also too difficult for you, then place them on your garment or insert them into your sleeves, then prostrate in that manner."

• I heard Ishaq again saying: "If you are in deep mud, water, or snow and cannot prostrate, then gesture with your head. That is what Anas ibn Malik, Jabir ibn Zayd, and others did."

1239 - Yahya ibn 'Abd al-Hamid narrated to us, he said: 'Umar ibn al-Rimmah narrated to us, he said: Kathir ibn Ziyad Abu Sahl narrated to us, from 'Amr ibn 'Uthman ibn Ya'la, from his father, from his grandfather, who said: "We were with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) on a journey. The sky was above us and the dew was beneath us. When the time for prayer came, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) commanded Bilal, who gave the adhan and the iqamah. Then the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) led us in prayer while mounted, performing the gestures; he would make the prostration lower than the bowing, and the people followed the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)."