Saying Tehillim on Shabbos
Requests and Pleas on Shabbos
8. One should not daven for parnassah, someone who is sick, and the like, on Shabbos if he is pained over the situation, as one should not cause himself pain on Shabbos (מ''ב סי' רפ''ח סקכ''ב ). The poskim explain that anything established as part of the nusach of tefillah is allowed (מ''ב סי' קפ''ח סק''ט ). Also, the requests in tefillah are phrased in the plural and do not cause people much pain. However, one should not make personal requests that can cause him pain on Shabbos unless he is in need of mercy due to an event that is occurring (מ''ב סי' רפ''ח סקכ''ו).
Saying Tehillim
9. In light of the above, the poskim discuss in what manner one may say Tehillim on Shabbos.
10. In a manner of praise. One may say Tehillim on Shabbos as praise to glorify and exalt Hashem without mentioning the name of any sick or needy person (שו''ת תשו ה"נ ח''ג סי' צ''ז ) even if in his mind, he is intending that it should be for a sick person to get healed or a zechus for a particular person. There are even people that say extra Tehillim before Shacharis on Shabbos, as it is an auspicious time (קבלה מפי המאור עינים ).
11. Dangerously ill person. If a person’s life is in real and present danger, one may daven and say Tehillim for him by name openly in a tzibbur. A specific tefillah for the ill person may also be said just like during the week, since pikuach nefesh overrides everything (שו''ע רפ''ח ס''י ).
12. Danger, but not immediate. If a person is in danger, but his condition is stable and there is no immediate danger to his life, e.g., he has a chronic illness, lo aleinu, but his life is not specifically at risk today, one should not daven for him and openly say Tehillim in a tzibbur unless he himself requested that people say Tehillim for him and might be put in danger if he finds out they didn’t say it (שו''ת אג''מ או''ח ח''א סי' ק''ה ). However, an individual may daven for mercy and say Tehillim for him by name (שו''ע הרב ס''ט ).
13. Non-dangerous illness. One may not daven or say Tehillim for a non-dangerously ill person by name on Shabbos even by himself. Similarly, one may not say Tehillim for someone without children or a shidduch and mention their name since davening for them is not necessary on Shabbos itself. One may say Tehillim without mentioning the subject’s name and have in mind that the praise and gratitude to Hashem should be a zechus for them.
14. During alarms. Likewise, during wartime when missile sirens are heard on Shabbos, it is permissible to recite Tehillim, since at that time danger looms over a large public, and it is also permissible to recite it in public, but at times when there are no alarms, it is permissible to recite it individually but not in public.
