Fatwa by: Shaykh Ibn Jibreen (حفظه الله)
Question:
Previously, I did not offer Salah, but Allah (ﷻ) guided me and granted me the zeal to perform the missed prayers. My question is: Do I have to make up the missed prayers of the past many years?
Answer:
When a person has abandoned prayers for many years and then repents and becomes fully committed to offering prayers, it is not obligatory for them to make up the missed prayers of the past. Imposing such a condition could discourage many people from repenting and returning to the straight path. The one who repents should be encouraged to remain steadfast in offering prayers from then onward, to perform many voluntary (nafl) prayers, to obey Allah (ﷻ), engage in acts of goodness, seek closeness to Allah, and remain conscious of Him.
And Allah knows best.
Question:
Previously, I did not offer Salah, but Allah (ﷻ) guided me and granted me the zeal to perform the missed prayers. My question is: Do I have to make up the missed prayers of the past many years?
Answer:
When a person has abandoned prayers for many years and then repents and becomes fully committed to offering prayers, it is not obligatory for them to make up the missed prayers of the past. Imposing such a condition could discourage many people from repenting and returning to the straight path. The one who repents should be encouraged to remain steadfast in offering prayers from then onward, to perform many voluntary (nafl) prayers, to obey Allah (ﷻ), engage in acts of goodness, seek closeness to Allah, and remain conscious of Him.
And Allah knows best.
