Rules of Prayer Archives - Page 5 of 5

Question 009: I am 15 years old and when I was younger I recall missing two isha prayers deliberately as I wasn’t bothered about praying all five prayers. I also missed prayers (all fajr prayers apart from Shahr al Ramadan). How do I make these up and is it permissible for me to make them up? I follow the Shafi method. JazakAllah Khair

Answer 009: Imam Baqir (as) says: Prayer is one of the Pillar of Islam.[1] One who is abandoning his prayer deliberately and without any reason is considered as an unbeliever who defies Allah, according to Imam Sadiq (as).[2]

Prayer cannot be skipped under any circumstances and it is one of the rights of Allah (SWT). If one doesn’t pray he/she has committed a capital sin. Regarding Haqqullah repentance would be to make up for the past and saying Istiqfar. If one repents to Allah (SWT) with sincere repentance! Maybe his Lord will absolve him of his misdeeds.[3]

In the Holy Quran Allah, the Almighty says: “Say [that Allah declares,]” O My servants who have committed excesses against their own souls, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed Allah will forgive all sins. Indeed He is the All-forgiving, the All-merciful.”[4]

The Arabic version of this verse of the holy Quran:

قُلْ يا عِبادِيَ الَّذينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلى‏ أَنْفُسِهِمْ لا تَقْنَطُوا مِنْ رَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَميعاً إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحيم‏

In view of the fact that you did not say Subh prayer for a year and the two Isha prayers, it becomes compulsory on you to perform Subh qada’ for a year and the two Isha prayers.

It is not incumbent on you to immediately make up for the prayers you missed out, as delaying compensatory prayer can be tolerated, provided it is not done out of indifference.[5]

Considering the above mentioned issues, from now on try to offer your prayers on time and then make up for the prayers you missed, gradually. So, if you repent from that sin and make all your missed prayers up as soon as you can, then Allah (swt) will forgive you. Insha’Allah.

[1] . Barqi, Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Khalid, al-Mahasin, Vol. 1, Pg. 44, Qom, Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyyah, 1371 A.H.

[2] Sheikh Kuleini, Kafi, Vol. 2, Pg. 279, Tehran, Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyyah, 1407 A.H.

[3] . Surah al-Tahrim, verse 8.

[4] . Surah al-Zumar, verse 53.

[5] . For further information, please refer to the official Website of the office of Sayyid Sistani (ha), Dialogue on prayer.

Question 008: I am deeply concerned about some Muslimahs not forming a complete row in congregational prayers. They always stand isolated in 3 or 4 family groups. They do not come forward, however, we tell them every night during Taraweeh. Even if some come forward out of compulsion they quietly split the rows, thus they are invalidating our prayers. Can you please tell me if my prayers are valid if they do not form complete rows?

Answer 008: Tarawih prayer is a recommended (mustahab) prayer. Performing mustahab prayers with a congregation (jama’ah) is not valid, according to some Shia scholars. It should be offered individually (i.e. Furada).

Therefore, if you are a Shia Muslim, you shouldn’t perform it with jama’ah. Otherwise, if performed in congregations, whether or not the rows are connected to each other, your prayer is not valid.
It should be noted that if the distance between the follower and the Imam or between him and another follower, who maintains connection with the Imam, is less than the size one person (one dhera) in the state of prostration, there would be no objection. However, if the gap is more than that, the jurists have different fatwas. Some scholars of the view that others’ prayers turn into individual prayers (furada).

According to the author of Urwatul Wuthqa, if those individuals, who are standing in the first row and have finished their prayers, stand up immediately and offer another prayer, others’ congregational prayers would be in order.[i]

[i]. Tawzih al-Masail of Imam Khomeini (with connotation), vol.1, Pg.774, issue No.1417; Al-Yazdi, al-Sayyid Muhammad Kazem, al-Urwatul Wuthqa (with annotation), vol.3, pg.148, issue No.15, Islamic Publications Institute, Qom, 1419 A.H.

– Related Link: Tarawih Prayer, answer 013.

Category Archives: Rules of Prayer

How to make up for missed prayers

In view of the fact that you did not say Subh prayer for a year and the two Isha prayers, it becomes compulsory on you to perform Subh qada’ for a year and the two Isha prayers.

Tarawih and Row in congregational Prayer

Answer 008: Tarawih prayer is a recommended (mustahab) prayer. Performing mustahab prayers with a congregation (jama’ah) is not valid, according to some Shia scholars. It should be offered individually (i.e. Furada).