[Q 275] The method of making up the missed prayers

Question

If someone missed a lot of prayers and then started praying again how would he need to make up for these missed Salahs?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الجواب بعون الملك الوهاب اللهم هداية الحق والصواب

Answer

The person who wants to offer Qada prayers should calculate the number of prayers he has missed since the time he became a Baligh (hit puberty). And if the date of reaching puberty is not known, then by precaution, a woman should calculate from the age of 9 years, and a man from the age of 12 years.

The intention should be made in this manner, for example:

“From all the Fajr prayers that I have missed, I am offering the first one.”

The intention will be made in the same way for every Qada prayer. Instead of “first”, one can also say “last” in the intention.

The Qada prayers can be offered at any time except the 3 disliked (Makruh) timings (From sunrise until the sun has fully risen (20 minutes), Midday (commonly known as Zawāl), 20 minutes before sunset till sunset), so they can be read in the times of Fajr* and Asr**.

*Meaning for Fajr Time: as soon time starts can read Qada whether that be before the Fardh or after but you can not read any nafl during fajr time except 2 Sunnahs of Fajr.
**And for Asr Time: can read Nafl and Qada before Asr salah as long as not in last 20 minutes. After the Fardh can’t read any Nafl, only Qada can be read as long as not in last 20 minutes.

Only the Qada of obligatory (Fardh) and Wajib (Necessary) prayers is required, not of Sunnah or Nafl prayers. The Qada prayers of one day amount to 20 rak’ats – 2 for Fajr, 4 for Zuhr, 4 for Asr, 3 for Maghrib, 4 Fardh and 3 Witr (Wajib) for Isha.

For a person who has more than 6 Qada prayers on him, it is not necessary to offer the Qada in order. Rather, he can first finish all the Qada of one prayer, like Fajr or Zuhr, and similarly of Asr, Maghrib and Isha. He can also offer all 5 prayers of one day together. And it is not necessary to only offer the Qada of that prayer whose time it is, rather during Fajr time for example, Qada of Zuhr, Asr etc can also be offered.

For a person who has a lot of Qada prayers due on him, it is allowed to offer the prayers in a simplified manner:

1. Recite Tasbeeh only once instead of 3 times in Ruku and Sajdahs, but be mindful like in normal prayer when one has completely reached Ruku then start the Subhan’s “س” and when he reaches the “م” of عظيم then stand up, the same goes for Sajdah.

2. In 3rd and 4th Rakat of Fardh prayers, instead of Surah Fatiha, one can recite 3 times “سبحان الله” and go into Ruku. But in Witr, Surah Fatiha and Surah need to be recited in all Rakats.

3. In last Qa’da, instead of Durood Ibrahimi and Dua after Attahiyaat, just say “اللهم صل علی محمد والہ” and end with Salam. And in the 3rd Rakat of Witr, after Takbeer (الله اکبر) instead of Dua e Qunoot one can either recite 1 or 3 times “رب اغفرلی” and go into Ruku.

However, this convenience should not become a permanent habit, and prayers should be offered complete according to Sunnah way regularly.

It is necessary to offer Qada prayers hidden without telling anyone, for example never state “I am offering my Qada prayers” etc. because expressing a sin is also extremely disliked (Makruh Tahrimi) and sinful. So if offering Witr Qada publicly, then say the Takbeer (الله اکبر) for Dua E Qunoot but do not raise hands.

Answered by: Mubashir Attari (AskMufti Scholar)

Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari

Translated by: Shaheer Attari