Do I Have to Repeat Invalid Prayers During My Childhood?
Answered by Ustadh Sufyan Qufi
Question
My brother prayed without wudu sometimes due to misunderstanding that he needed to renew it after using the toilet. Now that he’s reached the age of prayer, should he repeat those prayers, or can they be excused due to his ignorance?
Answer
In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,
A child is not responsible to pray. Thus, all the invalid prayers performed during one’s childhood don’t have to be repeated. [Shurunbuli, Nur al-Idah]
The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) has said: “The pen is lifted from three people: a sleeping person until he awakens, a child until he becomes an adult, and an insane person until he regains his sanity.” [Tirmidhi]
And Allah knows best.
[Ustadh] Sufyan Qufi
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Ustadh Sufyan Qufi is an advanced seeker of knowledge, originally from Algeria, who grew up in France. He began searching for ways to learn Islam reliably and was disappointed at the answers he found locally.
Then he connected with various traditional teachers and gradually connected with SeekersGuidance. He embarked on his journey of learning through the various teachers at SeekersGuidance, including his mentor Shaykh Faraz Rabbani.
He studied numerous texts in Islamic Law, Theology, Hadith, and other areas with Shaykh Faraz Rabbani and other teachers, including Shaykh Abdurrahman al-Sha‘ar, Shaykh Ali Hani, and others.
He is an active instructor at SeekersGuidance and answers questions through the SeekersGuidance Answers Service.
