AskImamDarul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah (AskImam)

Does qadah salah make up for the obligatory salah?

· 13 Safar 1422 AH2 min readFatwa 2754English
PrayerPrayer (Salaat)

Question

Some people say that qadah salah does not really make up for obligatory salah, but you still have to do it? Is this true and to what extent? If qadah does not make up for missed salah, then what is the purpose of qadah? If you make up for all missed salah through qada, will you be saved for making up the salah on the day of judgement e.g. there will be no need to make up for missed salah through your nafil (optional) salah? Or will nafil salah still be needed to make up the obligatory salah?

Answer

Among the wisdom of performing Salaat, one is that Salaat is an Ibaadat (worship) of thanks giving to Allah Ta'ala for all His favours on us. Factually, if we spend every second of our lives to worship Allah, we will not be able to thank Allah for His infinite bounties upon us.

Allah Ta'ala, out of His infinite grace has made it compulsory upon us to perform only 5 times a day. If we cannot even offer this little amount of time then we should hang our heads down in total shame. After enjoying all his bounties and this appreciation.

Consider our situation, if we had to do someone a favour and he couldn't find the time to say, 'Jazaakallah' how would we feel? Our Ibaadat does not increase Allah's honour in any way. Allah Ta'ala is not in need of our Ibaadat. We are the beneficiaries of our Ibaadat.

It is true that the Thawaab and virtue of a Salaat performed within its time is much more than the Qadhaa Salaats. However, that is no excuse for not performing Qadhaa Salaat.

If a person sincerely repents for not performing Salaats timeously, it is hoped that Allah Ta'ala will accept the Qadhaa Salaat and forgive the sin of not performing the Salaat timeously. This hope obviously will come from one who is sincere in his regret. A true of sincerity is that he will ensure performing all his Salaat timeously.

It is also advisable as part of your repentance to offer Nafl Salaat to make up for the shortfall in the Fardh as stated in a Hadith of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam), the meaning of which is, 'The first act to be reckoned for on the day of Qiyaamat will be Salaat. If the Salaat is in order then this person is in ruin and destruction. And if there is a shortfall in his Fardh Allah Ta'ala shall say, 'See if my servant has any Nafl (optional) Ibaadat to his record. Then the shortfall shall be completed with this Nafl, thereafter all other Ibaadat shall be accounted for accordingly.' (Mishkaat vol.1 pg.117; Qadeemi)

and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best

Mufti Ebrahim Desai
FATWA DEPT.

Answered by
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
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