How do I pray in hospital?

Pray in the position you can manage

Imran ibn Husain had a painful illness and asked the Prophet ﷺ how to pray. He said: pray standing; if you can't, then sitting; and if you can't, then on your side (Sahih al-Bukhari 1117). Allah never asks more than a person can bear:

• Sitting: bow by leaning forward a little; for sujood, lean further than for ruku.
• Lying on your side: ideally your right side, facing the qibla.
• On your back: feet toward the qibla if possible, head slightly raised, and nod for ruku and sujood.
• Very weak: many scholars say to pray with your eyes or in your heart; the Hanafi school says that if you can't even nod, the prayer is postponed until you can.

Praying in a hospital bed is the same idea as praying on a bed at home. See Can I pray on my bed or couch?

Wudu and cleanliness

If you can reach a sink, make wudu as usual. If water would harm you, or you can't move, do tayammum with clean dust or a wall. See How do I do tayammum?

With a catheter, drip or wound that won't stop leaking, you're treated like someone with a constant condition: make wudu (or tayammum) for each prayer once its time begins and pray, even if the flow continues. Clean your clothes and sheets as far as you can, but don't stress about what you can't control.

Qibla and prayer times

Ask a nurse or use your phone to find the qibla. If your bed can't be turned, pray in the direction you're facing. On timing, the Hanbali school and some others allow a sick person to combine Dhuhr with Asr and Maghrib with Isha when praying each on time is genuinely hard; other schools are stricter, so ask a local scholar if you're unsure.

Asking for help

Many hospitals in the UK, Europe and the US have a Muslim chaplain or a multi-faith room. Staff are used to these requests: a basin for wudu, a few minutes of privacy, a chair. You don't need to apologise for asking.