Question
Asslamu aleykum
Can u skip sunnah mu’akkadah prayers to make up qadaa i owe like 3-4 years of qadaa.
Answered by: Mufti Abdullah Nana
Verified by: Mufti Abdurrahman ibn Yusuf
Assalamu alaykum
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious Most Merciful
Wassalam. Mufti Mohammed Umar of Khairil Madaris writes, “A person should not leave out the Sunnah Mu’akkadah prayers because of the Qadhaa prayers [which he needs to perform]. However, it is better for him to read his Qadhaa salah in place of the Ghair Mu’akkadah Sunnats and normal Nafl Salah.” (Khayril Fataawa v. 2 pg. 612)
We understand that sometimes a person does find it difficult to read the Sunnah Mu’akkadah prayers when he still has many Qadha Salah to make up. It would save a lot of time and be a lot easier to read the Qadha prayers in place of the Sunnah Mu’akkadah. However, we should realize that there are great blessing and rewards for remaining punctual with the 12 rakats Sunnah Mu’akkadah Salah daily. Umm Habibah (RA) reports that Rasulullah (SAW) said something to the close effect, “Allah will build a palace in Paradise for he who reads 12 rakats of Sunnah daily.” (Sahih Muslim). A hadith of Tirmidhi further clarifies that this refers to two rakats before Fajr, four before Zuhr, two after Zuhr, two after Magrib, and two after E’sha. Rasulullah (SAW) is also reported to have said something to the effect that two raka’ts before Fajr are better than the world and all it contains.” (Mishkaat). We advise you to do your best and perform your Qadhaa Salah in addition to your Sunnah Mu’akkadah Salah. Allah will reward you greatly.
Allah knows best.
Abdullah Nana