THE LAPSED (QADA) PRAYERS

To let the Prayer lapse without a valid legal reason is a grave sin. It is obligatory to offer such Prayers and also necessary to repent from such sins. True repentance will wipe out the sin of letting the Prayer lapse, but repentance is proper only if the lapsed Prayer is offered. If the lapsed Prayer is not offered, such a repentance will not be accepted.

If the Prayer lapses due to forgetting or due to sleeping, it is still obligatory to offer the Qada (recapture) for it, although there is no sin for such a lapse. As soon as one remembers or gets up, the lapsed Prayer should be offered provided it is not an undesirable (Makrooh) time. Delaying it further without reason is disliked. If one is sleeping or has forgotten to offer Prayers, it is incumbent upon others to awaken or remind such a person. If one fears not being able to get up for the Dawn Prayer, such a person is not permitted to stay awake till late night without a valid legal reason.

If the “Takbeer Tahreemah” is offered within the time for any Prayer, then such Prayer has not lapsed but has been offered within time. However, the Dawn, Friday and Eid Prayers must be completed before the time for such Prayer ends - if the Salaam for these Prayer is said after the time has expired, such Prayer becomes invalid.

There is no fixed time of offering the lapsed Prayers – they can be offered at any time during one’s life. Whenever offered, it will free the person from this obligation.

A person who has lapsed Prayers for several years still un-offered, must calculate the number of Obligatory/Essential Prayers pending right from the time of attaining puberty to the time of regularly offering Prayers. And whenever one has spare time, these must be offered. Since offering the lapsed Prayers is more important than Voluntary (Nawafil) Prayers, it is better to offer them instead of the Non-Emphasised Sunnah (Ghair Muakkadah) and Voluntary (Nawafil) Prayers. However, the Taraweeh Prayers and the Emphasised Sunnah (Muakkadah) Prayers must not be left out. The intention (Niyah) for offering the lapsed Prayers can also be made like this – for example “I offer the first Dawn Prayer which was missed”. So the next time when offering another lapsed Dawn Prayer, the same intention (Niyah) can be made, as this has now become the first one still pending. Likewise, the intention can be made for other lapsed Prayers.

The Prayer of the sick

It is allowed to offer Prayers while sitting only if the sick person cannot stand on his own or feels giddy or the pain is unbearable or it will aggravate the illness or delay the cure. Standing (Qiyaam) is obligatory in Prayer, therefore it not allowed to forego it without a valid legal reason. If the sick person can stand with someone’s help or lean on a staff or against a wall, it is obligatory to offer the Prayer standing – even if he starts the Prayer standing for a short while and completes the rest of it while sitting – otherwise the Prayer will become void.

If one cannot sit on his own but someone else can help him up sit upright, it is necessary to offer the Prayer while sitting. If sitting is not possible, he can lean back on a pillow, wall etc., for support. If sitting is possible, Prayer will be void if offered while reclining.

If the patient can stand but cannot bend to offer the bow or prostration, it is better to offer the Prayer standing and offer the bow or prostration by gesturing. For the prostration, he must bow his head as far as possible and for the bow a little bit less than that.

If one cannot offer the prostration on the ground, but can offer it by keeping something on the ground (provided other conditions for prostrations are met), it becomes impermissible for such person to offer prostrations by only a gesture.

If the patient is incapable of sitting, the Prayer must be offered while lying down whether reclining on the left or right side but facing the “Qiblah” – or even with the body stretched out towards the “Qiblah” but with the knees folded. A pillow should be tucked under the head so that the face is towards the “Qiblah”.

Prayers on a journey

Islam has created ease for the travellers that during the journey they must reduce their Prayers. This reduction is called “Qasr”. That is, the Obligatory (Farz) Prayer consisting of 4 Cycles (Rakaats) should be reduced to two Cycles (Rakaats) only.

The Holy Prophet () has said: “This is a favour (Sadaqah) which Allah has bestowed upon you, therefore you must accept His favour.”

It is Essential (Wajib) upon the traveller to reduce the Obligatory Prayers. One who offers 4 Cycles on purpose will be sinning and must repent.

There is no reduction in Sunnah Prayers during travel, and they must be offered in full. It is reported that the Holy Prophet () used to offer the non-obligatory Prayers whilst sitting on his mount (Saheeh Bukhari & Saheeh Muslim).

In Islamic law, the traveller is one who has proceeded at least 57.375 miles (92.33 kilometers) out of his dwelling place, with the intention of travel. Till the time he does not return to his dwelling place, he must keep offering reduced obligatory Prayers. However, if he intends to stop at any place for 15 days or more during the journey, he will offer full Prayers at such place – even if due to some reason he later on stays there for less than 15 days. Likewise if the intention is to stay at a certain place for less than 15 days but stays on for 15 days or more, the traveller will offer reduced (Qasr) Prayers at such place.

If a traveller offers Prayers behind a Resident (Muqeem) “Imaam”, the traveller will offer full Prayers. However if residents offer their Prayers behind an “Imaam” who is a traveller, the “Imaam” must first inform the followers that he will offer only 2 Cycles (Rakaats). After 2 Cycles, the “Imaam” will say the Salaam, after which the followers must get up and complete the remaining two Cycles. However, in the 3^rd and 4^th Cycles, the followers need not recite Surah alFatehah or any other Surah, and remain silent during the Qiyaam.

Obligatory and Essential Prayers cannot be offered on a moving vehicle. However, if one fears that the time will lapse, it is better to offer them on time and then later re-offer them. Reduced Prayers that are missed out/lapsed or improperly offered during journeys should at the time of re-offering be offered with reduction (Qasr).

THE VOLUNTARY / ADDITIONAL (NAWAFIL) PRAYERS.

Besides the Obligatory and Essential Prayers, the Holy Prophet () used to make arrangements for the Voluntary (Nawafil) Prayers too. It is mentioned in the Hadith that Voluntary Worship is a means of attaining proximity to Allah.

It is better to offer Sunnah and Voluntary Prayers at home – however it is better to offer Taraweeh, Tahiyat ulMasjid (Prayers offered as a mark of respect upon entering the mosque), and the Voluntary Prayers upon returning from a journey, in a mosque. If preoccupation or lack of interest or laziness prevents one from offering these Prayers at home, then these should be offered in the mosque.

A brief summary of some of the Voluntary Prayers, which the Holy Prophet () stressed upon is mentioned hereunder.

Tahiyyat ulWuzu (Mark of respect after performing ablution)

It is recommended to offer 2 Cycles (Rakaats) Voluntary Prayer immediately after performing ablution, before the water on the body dries up. Similarly it is after taking a bath. The Holy Prophet () has stated: “Anyone who performs a good ablution and offers 2 Cycles of Prayer with proper external and internal concentration i.e. with complete sincerity – Paradise becomes mandatory for him.”

Tahiyyat ulMasjid (Prayers offered as a mark of respect upon entering the mosque)

It is Sunnah to offer 2 Cycles of Prayer upon entering the mosque, and to offer 4 Cycles is recommended. If one offers the Obligatory, Essential or Sunnah Prayers, he is deemed to have offered the Tahiyyat ulMasjid Prayer also, even if he did not make an intention for it.

If one enters the mosque at a time when Prayers are prohibited, he must make Remembrance (Zikr) of Allah, or recite Salutations – the rights of the mosque will have been offered.

The Tahajjud Prayers

Voluntary Prayers offered after the Night (Isha) Prayers are called “Salaat ul-Layl” (The Night-time Prayers). Voluntary Prayers offered during the night are better than those offered during the day. The Tahajjud Prayer is a kind of Salaat ul-Layl. The Tahajjud consists of a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 8 Cycles. When a person sleeps after offering Isha and gets up at any time during the night, it is the time for Tahajjud - and the best time for this is the final third part of the night.

The Ishraaq Prayer

The Ishraaq Prayer consists of 2 Cycles. It is better to wait after offering the Dawn Prayer and remain engrossed in the Remembrance of Allah or Salutations on the Holy Prophet (), and offer this at least 20 minutes after sunrise. The Hadith gives glad tidings of a reward equal to one Hajj and one Umrah to whoever offers this Prayer.

The Chaasht Prayer

The Chaasht Prayer consist of a minimum of 2 Cycles and a maximum of 12 Cycles, and 12 Cycles are best. The time for this starts from the sun’s ascent in the morning till the beginning of the meridian period (at Zawaal or beginning of Zohv Kubra). The Hadith gives glad tidings of a reward of Forgiveness and a golden palace in Paradise to whoever offers this Prayer regularly.

The Awwaabeen Prayer

Offering 6 Cycles Prayer is recommended after the Sunset (Maghrib) Prayer, and better to offer it in groups of 2 Cycles each. This is called the Awwaabeen Prayer. The Holy Prophet () has also encouraged performing this Prayer.

All Voluntary (Nawafil) Prayers can be offered while sitting, even without a valid excuse, but the reward of offering them while standing is double.

The Journey Prayer

Before starting out on a journey, it is recommended to offer 2 Cycles of Voluntary Prayer at home. The Holy Prophet () has stated: “No person leaves among his household anything better than the 2 Cycles of Prayer which he offers there prior to going on a journey.” While on the journey, one must offer 2 Cycles at the place where he stayed, and upon returning go home after offering 2 Cycles in the local mosque. This was the practice of the Holy Prophet ().

The Prayer of Repentance

Humans are prone to committing errors, but whenever one commits a sin, one should immediately turn towards his Compassionate and Merciful Lord, and with a remorseful conscience in order to seek forgiveness from Him, offer 2 Cycles of Prayer. This is recommended (Mustahab). The Holy Prophet () has said: “When one commits a sin, one must do an ablution and offer 2 Cycles of Voluntary Prayers and seek forgiveness of one’s sins from one’s Compassionate Lord. His Lord will forgive him.”

The “Tasbeeh” Prayer

The Holy Prophet () taught this Prayer to his uncle, Syedna Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him).

In the 1^st Cycle (Rakaat) after the “Sanaa” (but in the 2^nd Cycle before the “Tasmiyah”) recite the following “Tasbeeh” 15 times:

Subhaana Allahe wa alHamdu lillahe wa laa ilaaha illa Allahu wa Allahu Akbar.

(It is better to recite the entire 3^rd Kalemah). Then after reciting the “Taawuz”, “Tasmiyah”, Surah alFatehah and any small Surah (or equivalent) recite the above “Tasbeeh” 10 times. Then in the bow (Ruku) recite it 10 times after the normal “Tasbeeh”. Then in the Qawmah recite it 10 times after having recited the “Tasmeey” and Tahmeed. Then 10 times after the normal “Tasbeeh” in the prostration. Then 10 times in the Jalsah and another 10 times after the normal “Tasbeeh” in the second prostration. Continue in the same manner for all the 4 Cycles. In this way the “Tasbeeh” will have been recited a total of 300 times.

The Holy Prophet () has said: “If possible, offer this Prayer every day or else offer it every Friday. If unable to do this, then once a month or else once a year. If unable to do even this, then offer it at least once in a lifetime. Due to its blessedness, Allah the Supreme will forgive all (minor) sins – the earlier and the latter, the old and the new, whether committed on purpose or by mistake.” (Sunan Tirmizi).

The Need Prayer (Salaat ulHaajat)

The Holy Prophet () said: “Whoever has some need to be fulfilled from Allah or any bondman, must offer 2 Cycles of Prayer after a good ablution, then should praise & glorify Allah and send salutations upon me and then recite the following supplication:

Laa ilaaha illa Allahu alHaleemu alKareemu Subhaana Allahe Rabbe alArshe alAzeem; wa alHamdu Lillahe Rabbe alAlameen; asaluka moojibate rahmateka wa azaaema maghfirateka wa alganeemata min kulle birrin wa alSalaamata min kulle ismin laa tad’a lee zamban illa gafartahoo wa laa hamman illa farrajtahoo wa laa haajatan heya laka ridhan illa qadhaytaha yaa arhama alRahemeen.”

“There is no God except Allah, Who is Most Forbearing, Most Generous – Pure is Allah the Lord of the Great Throne; and all praise is to Allah, the Lord of the Creation; O Lord !! I seek from you the means of Your mercy, and the means of Your forgiveness - and I seek a share in every good deed and shelter from every sin; O Lord !! Forgive every sin of mine and remove all my sorrows; and fulfil my need which conforms with Your pleasure, O the Most Merciful of all !!” (Tirmizi, Ibn Majah)

A blind Companion (Sahabi) requested the Holy Prophet () to supplicate for his cure. The Holy Prophet () replied: “If you wish I shall supplicate for you - or you may patiently bear, and this is better for you.” He submitted, “Kindly supplicate for me.” The Holy Prophet () commanded him to make a good ablution and offer 2 Cycles of Prayer and then supplicate as follows:

Allahumma innee asaluka wa atawajjahu ilayka benabiyyeka Mohammedin nabiyyi alRahmahte -Yaa Rasool Allahe innee qad tawajjahtu beka ilaa rabbee fee hajatee hazehee letuqdaa lee – Allahumma faShaffeyhu fee.

“O Allah !! I seek from You and incline towards You through the means of Your Prophet Mohammed - the Merciful Prophet; O the Noble Messenger of Allah - I have, through you, inclined towards my Lord for this need of mine in order that it may be fulfilled !! O Allah – accept his intercession for me.”

When the blind man had completed his supplication, Allah restored him his eyesight as if he had never been blind. (Hakim, Tirmizi, Nasai, Ibn Majah, Tibrani, Baihaqi).

The Istikharah Prayer (for knowing what is suitable).

The Holy Prophet () used to teach his Companions the Istikharah supplication with great care and emphasis, just like a verse of the Holy Quran. He has said: “Whenever you intend any matter, offer 2 Cycles of Voluntary Prayer, and then supplicate as follows:

Allahumma innee astakheeroka be-ilmeka wa astaqderoka be-qudrateka wa as-aluka min fadleka al-Azeeme fa-innaka taqderu wa laa aqderu wa ta-lamu wa laa aa-lamu wa anta allamu al-guyoob. Allahumma in kunta ta-lamu anna haza al-amra khairun lee fee deenee wa ma-aashee wa aa-qebate amree faqdurhu lee wa yasserhu lee summa barek lee feehe wa in kunta ta-lamu anna haza al-amra sharrun lee fee deenee wa ma-aashee wa aa-qebate amree fasrifhu annee wasrifnee anhu waqdur leya al-khaira haysu kaana summa ardhinee behe.”

“O Allah !! I seek to know the suitability by Your knowledge, and by Your Power seek power from You, and seek Your great Munificence from You – for You are All-Powerful and I am weak, and You are All-Knowing and I do not know, and You also know the defects. O Allah if, as per Your knowledge, this matter of mine is better for me religion-wise, money-wise and in the hereafter – then destine it for me and make it easy for me, and then place blessings in it for me. And if, as per Your knowledge, this matter of mine is harmful for me religion-wise, money-wise and in the hereafter – then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and destine good for me wherever it may be and make me happy with it.” (Bukhari)

In this supplication instead of the words “haza al-amru” mention your need or just think about it. It is better to perform Istikharah seven times, for it is mentioned in one Hadith: “O Anas !! When you intend any matter, seek to know its suitability from your Lord seven times – then reflect upon what transpires in your heart, indeed that only is better.”

Some Shuyukh have said that after this supplication, one should go to sleep, with ablution facing the “Qiblah”. If he sees green or white colour in a dream, then the matter is good for him – and if one sees black or red colour, then the matter is harmful for him, and he must avoid it.

The time for Istkharah lasts up to the time one’s heart gets convinced upon one decision.