❀ Fajr Qadha Prayer: Perform Sunnahs First or Fardh? ❀
❖ Question
If the Fajr prayer is missed and needs to be made up, should the Sunnah prayer be performed first or the Fardh?
❖ Answer by Shaykh Abdul Wakeel Nasir حفظه الله
◈ Timing of Qadha Prayer
- Qadha means that the complete time of the prayer has passed, i.e., the sun has already risen.
- There is some scholarly difference of opinion in this matter, but the stronger opinion is that if the prayer was not missed deliberately, rather due to sleep, then it will not be considered Qadha but Ada (on-time).
◈ Reward and Virtue
- It is from the grace of Allah ﷻ that if a person misses the prayer unintentionally and did not wake up in time, he will still receive the full reward if he offers it immediately upon waking.
- As the Prophet ﷺ said:
“مَنْ نَسِيَ صَلَاةً فَلْيُصَلِّهَا إِذَا ذَكَرَهَا، لَا كَفَّارَةَ لَهَا إِلَّا ذَلِكَ”
(Sahih Muslim: 684)
“Whoever forgets a prayer, let him offer it as soon as he remembers. There is no expiation for it other than that.”
Another narration states:
“مَن نَسيَ صَلاةً أو نامَ عنها، فإنَّ كَفَّارتَها أنْ يُصَلِّيَها إذا ذكَرَها”
“Whoever forgets a prayer or sleeps through it, its expiation is that he should offer it as soon as he remembers it.”
❖ Order of Performing the Missed Fajr Prayer
◈ After the Sun Has Risen
- If the Fajr prayer is being made up after sunrise, then:
➤ First the Sunnah should be performed, then the Fardh.
◈ When the Congregation Is Missed but Time Remains
- If the congregational prayer is missed but time is still available, then:
➤ Perform the Sunnahs first, followed by the Fardh.
◈ If Time Is Short
- If the time is limited and sunrise is imminent, then:
➤ Perform the Fardh prayer first, and offer the Sunnahs afterward.
❖ Summary
① Woke up after sunrise: First Sunnah, then Fardh
② Missed congregation but still within time: First Sunnah, then Fardh
③ Short on time (sunrise near): First Fardh, then Sunnah
