If he is unable to perform the remembrance with his tongue, nor by gesturing with his limbs or his eyebrows, and he prays with his heart, it is sufficient for him. If there is someone present with him who can prompt him regarding the bowing, the prostration, the takbirs, and other such things, then that is more beloved to us, provided he is capable of being prompted.

He said: "It is not permissible for any of those who pray to abandon anything in their prayer that they are able to perform from that which they have been commanded, [simply] because they are unable to perform everything they have been commanded to do. This is because the excuse from Allah has already been granted to those who have an excuse, and He did not grant them an excuse regarding what they are able to do [just because they are unable to do something else]."

1259 - Muhammad ibn Yahya ibn 'Abd al-Karim narrated to us, he said: Shu'ayth ibn Muhriz narrated to us, he said: They asked Sufyan al-Thawri while I was present about the chronically ill person who cannot bow, nor prostrate, nor gesture, whose abdomen is soiled (with filth), yet he is conscious of the prayer; what should he do? Sufyan said: "If it is the Dhuhr, 'Asr, or 'Isha prayer, he says: 'Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar' four times."

1260 - Abu Hafs narrated to us, he said: Muhammad ibn Yusuf narrated to us, he said: Sufyan said: "The sick person, if he cannot sit, prays on his back, facing the Qiblah with his face."