Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad
Question
I missed my dhuhr prayer as I did not manage to arrive home on time after visiting the mall.
I was confused about whether I should immediately do it or if it is impermissible to do so. I decided to do so when it was during the time of Maghrib. Is what I did right or should I repent and do tawba?
Answer
Thank you for your question. May Allah reward you for being conscious of your prayers and may He facilitate the prayers for all of the believers.
Valid Excuse
It says in the Reliance of the Traveller,
No one has an excuse to delay the prayer beyond its time except:
(1) someone asleep (N: when its time first came who remained so until the time ended);
(2) someone who forgot it;
(3) or someone who delayed it to combine two prayers during a journey (dis: f15.12). [The Reliance of the Traveller, f1.5]
Invalid Excuse
And, it also says,
“Whenever a prescribed prayer is missed for a valid reason (def: n.5), it is recommended to make it up immediately. If missed without a valid reason, it is obligatory to make it up (dis: w18) immediately (A: meaning during all one’s time that is not occupied by necessities. In the Shafi‘i school, it is not even permissible for such a person to perform sunna prayers (N: before having finished making up the missed ones)). The same applies to making up missed obligatory fasts […]“ [The Reliance of the Traveller, f2.7]
Your Case
So, while it was sinful to miss it, as you could have prayed at the mall, or even in the parking lot, it was obligatory to make up the prayer immediately. Making it up after maghrib was still valid and tawba would be required for having missed it. I recommend this dua from the Quran for you, “Lord, grant that I and my offspring may keep up the prayer. Our Lord, accept my prayers.” [Quran, 14:40]
رَبِّ ٱجۡعَلۡنِى مُقِيمَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِىۚ رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلۡ دُعَآءِ
May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani