[Q 541] Delayed Sunnah of Zuhr and Isha

QUESTION:

For Zuhr and Isha, if we read the Fardh first, can we read the Sunnah meant to be read afterwards, or should they be skipped in that case?

ANSWER:

For Zuhr, performing the Sunnat-e-Qabliyyah (the Sunnah before the Fardh) before the Fardh is Sunnah Mu’akkadah (emphasised Sunnah). It should not be delayed without a Shar‘i (legitimate Islamic) excuse. If for some reason the Sunnah before Zuhr is missed, then it should be performed after the two Sunnah that follow the Fardh, provided it is still within the time. Therefore, in the situation asked about, if a person delayed the Sunnah before Zuhr without excuse and prayed the Fardh first, he did something blameworthy. In the future, he should not do so without a valid Shar‘i excuse. Since he has already prayed the Fardh, the remaining option is that after praying the two Sunnah following the Fardh, he should then perform the Sunnah that was missed before.

As for the Sunnah before Isha, if they are missed and someone wishes to pray them after performing the Fardh of Isha, he may do so after the two Sunnah following Isha; there is no prohibition in doing this. However, by doing so, the original Sunnat-e-Mustahabbah (recommended Sunnah) of before Isha will not be fulfilled; rather, it will count as Nafl (optional prayer).

Regarding the Sunnah before Isha, Imam Ahl al-Sunnah, Shah Imam Ahmad Raza Khan رحمه الله تعالى states:
“The decisive statement in this issue is that if these Sunnahs are missed, then there is no Qadha (make-up) for them. ‘Allamah ‘Ala’i states in Durr al-Mukhtar: اما ماقبل العشاء فمندوب لایقضی اصلا (As for the four Rak‘ahs before Isha, they are Mustahab and are not made up at all). However, if someone prays them after the two Sunnah after Isha, there is no prohibition. ‘Allamah Tahtawi states in his Hashiyah on Sharh Nur al-Idah: لامانع من قضاء التی قبل العشاء بعدھا (There is no harm in performing the Sunnah before Isha after it). Yes, the Sunnah Mustahabbah that was meant to be performed before Isha will not be attained; rather, it will be a Mustahab Nafl prayer.”

(Fatawa Ridawiyyah, Vol. 8, p. 146, Raza Foundation, Lahore)

Answered by: Usman Madani (Ask Mufti scholar)
Translated answer
Date: 13th February 2026.