Some People Say There Is No Qadā’ (Make-Up) for Sunnah Prayers — Is This Correct?
Source: Fatāwā Amunpūrī by Shaykh Ghulām Mustafa Zaheer Amunpūrī
Is it true that missed Sunnah prayers should not be made up (qadā’)?
No, this statement is incorrect. It is permissible and Sunnah to make up missed Sunnah prayers (Sunan Rawātib).
Sayyidah Umm Salamah رضي الله عنها saw the Prophet ﷺ performing two rakʿāt after ʿAṣr, so she inquired about them. The Prophet ﷺ replied:
"O daughter of Abū Umayyah! You asked about the two rakʿāt after ʿAṣr. The truth is that a group from the tribe of ʿAbd al-Qays came and preoccupied me from offering the two rakʿāt after Ẓuhr, so I am now making them up."
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1233, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 833)
Imām al-Khaṭṭābī رحمه الله (388 AH) stated:
"This ḥadīth proves that missed nawāfil (non-obligatory prayers) should be made up and not left out."
(Aʿlām al-Ḥadīth: 1/655)
Ḥāfiẓ al-Nawawī رحمه الله (676 AH) said:
"If Sunan Rawātib are missed, it is recommended to make them up (qadā’). This is the correct view in our madhhab."
(Sharḥ al-Nawawī: 6/121)
ʿAllāmah al-Ṭayyibī رحمه الله (743 AH) noted:
"This ḥadīth indicates that time-bound nawāfil can be made up just like obligatory prayers."
(Sharḥ Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ: 4/1121)
ʿAllāmah Ibn Abī al-ʿIzz al-Ḥanafī رحمه الله (792 AH) said:
"This ḥadīth is proof that Sunan Rawātib can be made up. It is permissible to do so even after ʿAṣr, and similarly after Fajr — there is no difference between the two."
(al-Tanbīh ʿalā Mushkilāt al-Hidāyah: 2/694)
Sayyidunā Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrated:
"The Prophet ﷺ was on a journey and rested during the last part of the night. He and the companions overslept, and Fajr was delayed until after sunrise. Upon waking, the Prophet ﷺ performed wuḍū’, prayed the two Sunnah rakʿāt of Fajr, then led the congregation in the Fajr prayer."
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 680)
Ḥāfiẓ al-Nawawī رحمه الله said about this incident:
"This ḥadīth is evidence that missed Sunan Rawātib should be made up."
(Sharḥ Muslim: 5/183)
✔ It is permissible and recommended (mustaḥabb) to make up missed Sunnah Mu’akkadah prayers.
✔ This practice is supported by authentic ḥadīths, the actions of the Prophet ﷺ, and the consensus of major scholars.
✔ The notion that Sunnahs have no qadā’ is incorrect and contradicts clear evidences.
Source: Fatāwā Amunpūrī by Shaykh Ghulām Mustafa Zaheer Amunpūrī
❖ Question:
Is it true that missed Sunnah prayers should not be made up (qadā’)?
✿ Answer:
No, this statement is incorrect. It is permissible and Sunnah to make up missed Sunnah prayers (Sunan Rawātib).
❀ Example from the Prophet ﷺ:
Sayyidah Umm Salamah رضي الله عنها saw the Prophet ﷺ performing two rakʿāt after ʿAṣr, so she inquired about them. The Prophet ﷺ replied:
"O daughter of Abū Umayyah! You asked about the two rakʿāt after ʿAṣr. The truth is that a group from the tribe of ʿAbd al-Qays came and preoccupied me from offering the two rakʿāt after Ẓuhr, so I am now making them up."
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1233, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 833)❀ Scholarly Commentary:
Imām al-Khaṭṭābī رحمه الله (388 AH) stated:"This ḥadīth proves that missed nawāfil (non-obligatory prayers) should be made up and not left out."
(Aʿlām al-Ḥadīth: 1/655) Ḥāfiẓ al-Nawawī رحمه الله (676 AH) said:"If Sunan Rawātib are missed, it is recommended to make them up (qadā’). This is the correct view in our madhhab."
(Sharḥ al-Nawawī: 6/121) ʿAllāmah al-Ṭayyibī رحمه الله (743 AH) noted:"This ḥadīth indicates that time-bound nawāfil can be made up just like obligatory prayers."
(Sharḥ Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ: 4/1121) ʿAllāmah Ibn Abī al-ʿIzz al-Ḥanafī رحمه الله (792 AH) said:"This ḥadīth is proof that Sunan Rawātib can be made up. It is permissible to do so even after ʿAṣr, and similarly after Fajr — there is no difference between the two."
(al-Tanbīh ʿalā Mushkilāt al-Hidāyah: 2/694)❀ Example from the Sunnah: Fajr Sunnah Made Up After Sunrise
Sayyidunā Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrated:
"The Prophet ﷺ was on a journey and rested during the last part of the night. He and the companions overslept, and Fajr was delayed until after sunrise. Upon waking, the Prophet ﷺ performed wuḍū’, prayed the two Sunnah rakʿāt of Fajr, then led the congregation in the Fajr prayer."
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 680) Ḥāfiẓ al-Nawawī رحمه الله said about this incident:"This ḥadīth is evidence that missed Sunan Rawātib should be made up."
(Sharḥ Muslim: 5/183) Conclusion:
✔ It is permissible and recommended (mustaḥabb) to make up missed Sunnah Mu’akkadah prayers.
✔ This practice is supported by authentic ḥadīths, the actions of the Prophet ﷺ, and the consensus of major scholars.
✔ The notion that Sunnahs have no qadā’ is incorrect and contradicts clear evidences.
