08/12/2023
HOW TO MAKEUP MISSED PRAYER
If a person forgets one prayer and does not remember until the time for the next prayer begins, then he remembers it, one of the following three scenarios must apply:
1-He remembers the missed prayer before he starts to offer the current prayer. In this case he has to start with the missed prayer, then pray the prayer that is currently due.
2-He prays the current prayer and completes it, then he remembers that he still has to do the missed prayer that he has not prayed yet. His current prayer is valid and he only has to pray the missed prayer, and he is excused for not praying them in the proper order because he forgot.
3-He remembers during the current prayer that he did not pray the previous prayer, which he missed. So he should complete the current prayer, which then becomes a naafil (supererogatory) prayer, then he should pray the prayer his missed, and then repeat the current prayer, in order to keep them in the proper order. This is the view of Imam Ahmad (may Allaah have mercy on him). See al-Mughni, 2/336-340). This is also the view of ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with them both). Imaam Maalik narrated in al-Muwatta’ (408) that Naafi’ ibn ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Umar used to say, “Whoever forgets a prayer then remembers it only when he is with the imaam, then when the imaam says the salaam, let him pray the prayer that he had forgotten, then let him pray the other after that.” Shaykh al-Islam (Ibn Taymiyah – may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “When he remembers the prayer that he missed during the (current) prayer, it is as if he remembered before he started it. But if he does not remember until the current prayer is finished, then the current prayer is valid according to the majority of scholars, such as Abu Haneefah, al-Shaafa’i and Ahmad…” (al-Fataawa al-Kubra, 1/112)
His completing the prayer that he is currently praying is mustahabb (recommended), not waajib (obligatory). If he stops that prayer, then prays the prayer he missed, then prays the current prayer, that is permissible. Muhanna said: “I said to Ahmad, ‘I was praying ‘Isha, then I remembered that I had not prayed Maghrib. So I prayed ‘Isha’, then I prayed Maghrib and repeated ‘Isha’.’ Ahmad said, ‘You did right.’ I said, ‘Should I not have stopped praying when I remembered?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ I said, ‘So how did I get it right?’ He said, ‘Both are permissible.’” (al-Mughni, 2/339).
Some of the scholars are of the view that he should complete the (current) prayer that he is praying, and then do the missed prayer, and he does not have to repeat the current prayer. This is the view of al-Shaafa’i, as stated in al-Majmoo’, 3/70. This was also the view favoured by Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him). (Majmoo’ Fataawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 12/221). But the first opinion is more on the safe side.
Source: https://islamqa.info
