Making up for prayers missed deliberately
23-10-2017 | IslamWeb
Question:
Assalaamu alaykum. I beg you to send me a new fatwa for my case. I want to make up for the missed prayer that I left deliberately because of the evidence from the hadith. However, I believe that an ignorant person does not have to make up past prayers except for the current one. Is it permitted for me to only make up for the prayer that I missed deliberately (concerning my previous case in which I did not know that masturbating requires Ghusl [ritual bath])? I have tried to make up for everything that I remember, however, I read what Shaykh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiya said and saw the proofs for those who are ignorant. Can I choose this opinion while making up for what I left deliberately? May Allah bless you. Also, while making up for these prayers, am I not allowed to have leisure time to talk with my friends or play with my family and go to some place? Am I required to devote the entire time to make up for these prayers? I keep pushing myself, but my legs hurt after several prayers each day. Please help me with a detailed answer.
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
Scholars held different opinions regarding the obligation of making up for the obligatory prayers that were missed deliberately. There is no harm on you in following the opinion that it is not obligatory to make up for them. This was the opinion chosen by Shaykh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah.
Scholars also held different opinions regarding the obligation of making up for the obligatory prayer if one missed any of its pillars or conditions out of ignorance. The chosen opinion by Shaykh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah is that one is not obliged to make up for those prayers, and this opinion is supported by strong evidence. There is no harm on you in following this opinion and acting upon his fatwa.
If you choose to make up for those prayers, then the manner of doing that is to make up for them according to your ability such that it does not cause you physical harm or affect your livelihood. The Maalikis held that it is sufficient to make up for the missed prayers of two days with each current day; you may act upon this opinion if it is easier for you. For more benefit, please refer to fatwa 334915.
Allah knows best.