Question 1:

For Qadha prayers, I started to make up Qadha prayers which I missed in early part of my life either b/c of my laziness or b/c there was no arrangement in my school to go for prayers during prayer times. I came along this website and now I am confused b/c they say in summary that Qadha prayer is if someone forgets or had a valid excuse or fell asleep during the prayer time – if someone does not pray due to laziness – then it is a great sin and there is no Qadha prayer?? please explain

Time: Saturday January 9, 2010 at 6:20 pm

Answer 1:

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Whoever forgets to perform their (fard) salah, must perform it when they have remembered. The atonement for it is the likeness of what was not performed.

According to all the major schools, qadha prayers do exist. Rasulullah (SAW) as the best of example missed a prayer to make this point clear for the Ummah. Had He (SAW) not done a make-up for the Fajr prayer, an argument against it would have greater strength.

To illustrate, Rasulullah (SAW) said: my eyes are closed however my heart continues to remember Allah (SWT) (paraphrased hadith.) Thus, Him (SAW) doing a makeup of his fajr salah is an indication that even if a person may forget it or remain negligent of it, a makeup of it is warranted. Also it is mentioned in hadith that if a person lapses in not performing the two sunnah of fajr, the individual must make it up after the sun has risen. If a sunnah is recommenced as makeup, how can fard be ignored, regardless of the general excuse?!

Another example would be during a battle of Ahzab wherein the sahaba missed four salah. They did a makeup for all the four prayers.  Few would argue that we understand religion better than the sahaba, whom the Quran praises. This missed salah as would be noted was missed with intention (even though the circumstance had called for it). Yet a makeup was done!

If one has to make up for what was left out without intending to do so, then most certainly it would have to be made up when not performed intentionally. This fact would go without saying.  The best compensation for a neglectful action is an atonement of its like to gain a greater chance of forgiveness, Insha’Allah.

You are doing well in doing your qadha, do not let anyone prevent you from doing that which would take you gain greater closeness to Allah (SWT).

Question 2: For Isha Qadha prayers — Do we have to do Qadha for Witr as well or is it for Farz only?

Answer 2:

Hanafees would have to make up the witr as well as the fard.

Shawafee would have to make up for the fard only.

If you are in doubt, then perform witr as well.

Allah Certainly Knows Best.