Is it permissible to say prayers (du’a), to glorify Allah and to make dhikr while lying down?

1. Is it permissible to say prayers, to glorify Allah and to make dhikr while lying down 
2. Is it necessary to cover the parts of the body that need to be covered while saying prayers? Does a woman have to cover all her body except her hands, face and feet and a man between his navel and kneecaps when they say prayers? 
3. Is it necessary to turn toward the qiblah while saying prayers, repenting and thanking Allah? Is it necessary to turn toward the qiblah while glorifying Allah?
4. Is it permissible to say prayers, thank Allah and repent wearing dirty clothes (with smear of urine, sperm, etc.)? 
5. Is it permissible to say prayers, repent and thank Allah without making ghusl, when one is junub?

Dear Brother / Sister,

First of all, we should state that there are manners and rules for everything; saying prayers, thanking Allah and repenting also have some manners and rules. The more we pay attention to those manners and rules, the more probably the prayers, thanking and repentance will be accepted. 

However, it is permissible to say prayers, thank Allah and repent in places, at times and in cases when those manners or rules cannot be fulfilled or when conditions are not suitable.

After this short information, we will answer your questions in items:

Question 1:
Is it permissible to say prayers, to glorify Allah and to make dhikr while lying down? 

Answer:

It is permissible to mention Allah, to say prayers, to glorify Him and to make dhikr while standing, sitting or lying.

It is stated in the Quran that it is permissible to celebrate the praises of Allah while lying down too:

“Men who celebrate the praises of Allah, standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides...” (Aal-i Imran, 3/191)

According to what is narrated from Bara b. Azib, when the Prophet (pbuh) went to bed, he would lie down turning to his right side and prays as follows:

“O Allah! I have submitted myself to You. I have committed my affairs to You. I have relied on You since I fear and love You. I take refuge only in You. My salvation depends on you. I believe in the Book You revealed and in the Prophet You sent” (Bukhari, Wudu, 75; Muslim, Dhikr, 56-58)

The same Companion states that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said to him,

“When you want to go to bed to sleep, make wudu as you would for the prayer, then lie on your right side. Say this prayer (the prayer above) and let this prayer be your last words before sleeping.” (Bukhari, Wudu, 75; Muslim, Dhikr, 56)

Click for more information:

- What is the decree of listening to the Quran?
- Is it permissible to say prayers or read the Quran while lying down on a place or in bed?

Question 2:
Is it necessary to cover the parts of the body that need to be covered while saying prayers? Does a woman have to cover all her body except her hands, face and feet and a man between his navel and kneecaps when they say prayers? 

Answer:

It is better for those places to be covered in terms of the manners of prayer (du’a) but it is not obligatory; it is permissible to say prayers when those parts are uncovered.

Question 3:
Is it necessary to turn toward the qiblah while saying prayers, repenting and thanking Allah? Is it necessary to turn toward the qiblah while glorifying Allah?

Answer:

It is permissible to say prayers in any case. It is not necessary to turn toward the qiblah while saying prayers. 

However, there are manners and rules for everything; saying prayers also has some manners and rules. It is better to say prayers by turning toward the qiblah in terms of those manners and rules.

Imam Ghazali gives a ten-item list of manners of saying prayers (du’a) including saying prayers heartily, secretly and with a low voice.

Accordingly, du’a should be said at holy times and places by turning toward the qiblah; it should be started with the name of Allah and one should regret his sins; he should be patient for the acceptance and keep on saying prayers believing that they will be accepted. (Ihya, 1/304-309)

Some narrations related to the Prophet’s saying prayers by turning toward the Kaaba are as follows:

“The Prophet (pbuh) came to the place of waqfa on the day of Arafa. He turned toward the qiblah and said prayers until the sun set.” (Ihya, 3/305)

“When the Prophet went to pray for rain, he turned toward the qiblah.” (Bukhari, Istithqa, 4, 20; Muslim, Istithqa, 2, 4)

“The Prophet said prayers by turning toward the qiblah on the day of Badr.” (Muslim, Jihad, 58/1763)

Click for more information:

What is the decree about turning toward the qiblah while saying prayers and what is the wisdom behind it?

Question 4
Is it permissible to say prayers, thank Allah and repent wearing dirty clothes (with smear of urine, sperm, etc.)? 

Answer:

It is permissible to say prayers thank Allah and repent wearing dirty clothes because there is no condition stating that the clothes to be worn for saying prayers, thanking Allah and repenting must not be dirty. 

However, it is better for the acceptance of the prayer to say prayers, thank Allah, repent, and invoke Him by wearing clean clothes and having wudu along with paying attention to the other manners of prayer.

Question 5:
Is it permissible to say prayers, repent and thank Allah without making ghusl, when one is junub?

Answer:

It is permissible to say prayers, make dhikr and glorify Allah without making ghusl, when one is junub. It is even permissible to recite (by heart) the verses of supplication from the Quran with the intention of du’a.  

As a matter of fact, it is regarded permissible to recite (by heart) the verses of supplication and praise in the Quran with the intention of supplication and praise, not with the intention of reading the Quran. For instance, it is permissible for a junub person to read the chapters of al-Fatiha, an-Nas and al-Falaq, which include verses of supplication and praise and the verse ayatul-kursiyy. (see Ibn Abidin, Raddul-Muhtar –Shamila-, 1/293)

Thus, a junub person can say prayers, thank Allah and repent; he can even recite (by heart) the verses and chapters of al-Fatiha, ayatul-kursiyy, an-Nas and al-Falaq, which include verses of supplication, invocation, glorification and praise with the intention of supplication and glorification.

Click for detailed information about the manners of du’a and the issues to pay attention to while saying prayers:

What are asked during du’a and what are the things that one should pay attention in du’a?

Questions on Islam