The Correct Shar’i Method of Making Up Missed Prayers
Question:
If one or more obligatory prayers could not be performed due to sleep or forgetfulness, how should they be made up? Should the missed prayers be performed first and then the current time’s prayer, or the reverse?
Answer:
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
When an obligatory prayer is missed due to sleep or forgetfulness, then:
✿ The missed prayers should be performed first, and then the current prayer is to be performed.
✿ It is not permissible to delay further.
Common misconceptions among the public
The well-known notion that a missed prayer should be performed on the next day at the same time as that prayer (for example, if Fajr was missed, it should be prayed with Fajr the next day) is incorrect, and it contradicts the verbal and practical Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.
The verbal Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ:
((مَنْ نَام عنَ صَلَاۃً اَو نسیھاْْفلیُصَلِّیَہَا إِذَا ذَکَرَہَا))
“Whoever sleeps through a prayer or forgets it, let him pray it as soon as he remembers it.”
✿ This hadith does not mention that the prayer should be performed on the next day at its time; rather, it emphasises that it should be made up immediately upon remembering.
The practical Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ:
✿ During the days of the Battle of the Trench, when some of the Prophet’s prayers were missed, he ﷺ performed them before the current prayer.
✿ This makes it clear that it is necessary to perform the missed prayers first.
If the current prayer is performed first:
✿ If a person performs the current prayer first due to forgetfulness or ignorance:
◈ His prayer is valid.
◈ Because forgetfulness and ignorance are a valid excuse.
The Three Types of Making Up Prayers
1. Making up a prayer once the excuse has ended:
✿ Those prayers which are performed after an excuse (such as sleep or forgetfulness) has ended.
✿ These include:
◈ The five obligatory prayers
◈ The Witr prayer
◈ And the Sunnah Mu’akkadah similar to them
2. Making up a prayer by performing another prayer in its place:
✿ Example: The Friday prayer
◈ If a person arrives when the imam has already raised his head from the prostration of the second rak’ah, then:
➤ He will not be included in Friday prayer.
➤ He must perform the Zuhr prayer.
Some clarifications:
✿ A person who joins the imam in the bowing (ruku’) of the second rak’ah:
◈ He obtains the Friday prayer.
◈ After the salam, he will pray one additional rak’ah.
((مَنْ اَدْرَکَ رَکْعَۃً مِنَ الصَّلَاۃِ فَقَدْ اَدْرَکَ الصَّلَاۃَ))
“Whoever catches one rak’ah of the prayer has caught the prayer.”
Important point:
✿ Those who join after the imam has raised his head from the prostration:
◈ They are not included for Friday.
◈ They should perform the Zuhr prayer.
Ruling for women and the sick:
✿ Those who cannot attend the Friday prayer (such as women or the sick):
◈ Friday is not obligatory upon them.
◈ They must perform the Zuhr prayer.
◈ If they pray two rak’ahs of Friday, their prayer will be invalid and rejected.
3. A prayer that can be made up the next day:
✿ Example: The Eid prayer
◈ If the Eid prayer is missed after the sun has passed its zenith, then:
➤ It can be made up the next day at a time equal to that time.
➤ Scholars have permitted this.
Brief list of the types of making up prayers:
✿ First type:
Prayers which are made up after the excuse has ended.
◈ For example: the five daily prayers, Witr, Sunnah Mu’akkadah
✿ Second type:
Prayers for which another prayer is performed as their making up.
◈ For example: the Zuhr prayer when Friday is missed
✿ Third type
: A prayer which is made up the next day at a time equal to its own time.
◈ For example: the Eid prayer
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
