Q: I have done some stupid things like missing my Salah. I have missed Salah for few years since I became an adult but I also missed my Salah a lot when I had a job and I now I don’t know the exact number of Salah I have missed. Do I need to make up all Salah I missed? I have a habit of recording the qaza Salah down and praying it at a later date. Alhamdulilah now I read all my Salah but what should I do about all the missed Salah?
A: Foregoing one’s Salaah intentionally is a major sin. If one had intentionally omitted one’s Salaah, one should sincerely repent to Allah Ta’ala for committing this major sin and make a firm resolve that one will not repeat this in the future. One will also have to make up for the missed Salaah.
You should estimate the amount of Salaah you had missed and thereafter begin making up for the missed Salaah. At the time of carrying out the qadha Salaah, you will make the intention that the Salaah you are performing is the qadha of the last Salaah that you had missed. For example if you are performing the qadha of Zuhr Salaah, you will make the intention that this is the qadha for the last Zuhr that you have missed. The same will apply for all other qadha Salaah.
And Allah Ta’ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
Answered by:
Mufti Zakaria Makada
Checked & Approved:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)