How Should We Address Years of Missed Prayers Without a Valid Excuse?

Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Question

How should a person address years of missed prayers without a valid excuse? Can deliberately missed prayers be made up?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Merciful and Compassionate.

The Obligation of Making Up Missed Prayers

Yes, deliberately missed prayers must be made up. This is obligatory by scholarly consensus.

Imam Nawawi relates this consensus in his work al-Majmu‘ Sharh al-Muhadhdhab. The same is also affirmed by scholars such as Kamal ibn al-Humam and Imam Badr al-Din al-‘Ayni. Across the established positions of the Mujtahid Imams, there is consensus that prayers missed, whether forgetfully, negligently, or deliberately, must be made up.

Imam Nawawi notes in al-Majmu‘ Sharh al-Muhadhdhab that the only significant departure from this position was made by Imam Ibn Hazm. However, he lived in the fifth century, long after the age of the Mujtahid Imams. His view, therefore, opposed the established scholarly consensus.

Scholarly consensus necessarily has a basis in the primary texts, as explained in the works of Usul al-Fiqh. This is supported by the well-known report that,

“My community shall not agree on error.”

Determining What Must Be Made Up

The first step is to determine which prayers were not performed at all and which prayers were clearly invalid.

Before beginning to make up missed prayers, one should learn the basic fiqh of worship so that future prayers are performed correctly. This can be done briefly and straightforwardly. It is important first to understand what constitutes a valid prayer.

Reviewing the Validity of Past Prayers

After identifying which prayers may need to be made up, it may be beneficial to consult someone knowledgeable. This helps ensure that one does not overcompensate.

Prayers that contained shortcomings may still be valid and do not necessarily need to be made up. Only invalid prayers must be repeated. A prayer is considered invalid if one failed to fulfill a condition of the prayer or did not perform an integral of the prayer.

These obligatory elements are the conditions and integrals of the prayer. Other shortcomings do not affect the validity of the prayer.

Making a Consistent Plan to Make Up Prayers

Once the number of missed prayers is determined, one should establish a gradual and consistent schedule for making them up.

The key is to have a clear intention, a practical plan, and consistency in fulfilling it.

Related

• On Worship (Purification, Prayer, Fasting, Zakat, and Hajj): Shurunbulali’s Ascent to Felicity (Course)
• Making Up Missed Prayers Archives
• How Can Someone Make Up Multiple Years of Missed Prayers? (Short Video Answer)
• How Does One Make Up for a Large Number of Prayers?
• Do I Have to Make Up Missed Prayers In Order?

And Allah is the giver of success and facilitation.
[Shaykh] Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani is a recognized specialist scholar in the Islamic sciences, having studied under leading scholars from around the world. He is the Founder and Executive Director of SeekersGuidance.

Shaykh Faraz stands as a distinguished figure in Islamic scholarship. His journey in seeking knowledge is marked by dedication and depth. He spent ten years studying under some of the most revered scholars of our times. His initial studies took place in Damascus. He then continued in Amman, Jordan.

In Damascus, he was privileged to learn from the late Shaykh Adib al-Kallas. Shaykh Adib al-Kallas was renowned as the foremost theologian of his time. Shaykh Faraz also studied under Shaykh Hassan al-Hindi in Damascus. Shaykh Hassan is recognized as one of the leading Hanafi jurists of our era.

Upon completing his studies, Shaykh Faraz returned to Canada in 2007. His return marked a new chapter in his service to the community. He founded SeekersGuidance. The organization reflects his commitment to spreading Islamic knowledge. It aims to be reliable, relevant, inspiring, and accessible. This mission addresses both online and on-the-ground needs.

Shaykh Faraz is also an accomplished author. His notable work includes “Absolute Essentials of Islam: Faith, Prayer, and the Path of Salvation According to the Hanafi School,” which was published by White Thread Press in 2004 and is a significant contribution to Islamic literature.

His influence extends beyond his immediate community. Since 2011, Shaykh Faraz has been recognized as one of the 500 most influential Muslims. This recognition comes from the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center. It underscores his impact on the global Islamic discourse.

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani’s life and work embody a profound commitment to Islamic scholarship. His teachings continue to enlighten and guide seekers of knowledge worldwide.