How can I make up for my missed Salahs?

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.  

As-salāmu 'alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

It is pleasing to note that you wish to make up for your missed Salahs and be a practicing Muslim.

Allah Ta'ala says in the Quran:

إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَابًا مَوْقُوتًا

Translation: Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times. 

(Surah An-Nisa – Verse 103) 

Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said:

اَلصّلَاةُ عِمَادُ الدِّيْن

Translation: "Salah is the foundation of Deen (Islam)".  

(Shu'abul Iman Bayhaqi - 3/39) 

أَوَّلُ مَا يُحَاسَبُ بِهِ الْعَبْدُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ صَلَاتُهُ

Translation: "The first thing for which the Muslim will be brought to account on the Day of Resurrection will be the prescribed (Fardh) prayers". (Musnad Ahmad 16954)

Salah becomes compulsory upon an individual once he becomes an adult in terms of Shariah.

If a male experiences physical maturity, for example, he experiences a wet dream after the age of 12, then he will be considered as an adult in terms of Shariah.[1] If he does not experience a wet dream, his Buloogh (adulthood) will commence once he reaches the age of 15.

If a female attains puberty by menstruation after the age of 9, then she will be considered as an adult in terms of Shariah. If she does not experience menstruation, her Buloogh (adulthood) will commence once she reaches the age of 15.

In principle, after Buloogh (age of maturity), the laws of Shariah becoming binding on an individual. Therefore, if one misses a Salah, it is necessary for him to immediately make Qadha of it. Qadha is only offered for the missed Fardh and Wajib Salahs i.e. Fajr, Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Esha and Witr.[2]

If one does not know how many Salah he missed, he should make an unbiased estimation and act accordingly. 

An easy method of offering Qadha is to perform it with each present Salah.

When making Qadha, it should be done according to the missed Salah. For example, if one missed Fajr, he should perform two Rakats of Qadha with his Fajr. If one missed Zohr, he should perform four Rakats Qadha with his Zohr.

If one was on a journey when he missed his Salah, he should perform Qasr for the four Rakat Salahs. Therefore, if he missed Zohr on a journey, he should make two Rakats Qadha of that Zohr even if he is at home when making Qadha.

If one missed a Salah whilst at home and wishes to make Qadha of it while on a journey, then he should perform not perform Qasr when making Qadha of that Salah. Therefore, if he missed Zohr while he was a Muqeem (at home), then he should perform four Rakats of Qadha for that Zohr Salah even if he is a Musafir.

If one is performing Qadha of Fajr he may make the following intention: "Oh Allah, I am making Qadha of the first Fajr Salah that I missed." If one is performing Qadha of Zuhr, he will say: "Oh Allah, I am making Qadha of the first Zuhr Salah that I missed."[3]

You may continue reading Nafl Salah. However, you should give more focus to making up for your missed Salahs. Your Nafl Salah will not count as a Qadha for any missed Salah.

We do not know how long we will live in this world. Tomorrow we will stand before Allah and give an account of our Salah. Make an earnest attempt to cover up for your missed Salahs.

May Allah make it easy for you. Aameen.

And Allah Ta'āla Knows Best 

Mohamed Ebrahim bin Ismail Abdullah 

Student - Darul Iftaa

Pietermaritzburg, KZN, South Africa 

Checked and Approved by, 

Mufti Ebrahim Desai. 

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