Islamic Fiqh > Prayer > Making up missed prayers (qada)
Forgotten or missed prayers: the Prophet's order for forgetfulness, the rule for sleep, and the delicate question of long-missed prayers.
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Updated on 31 August 2026 at 3:55 AM
The missed prayer, by sleep or forgetfulness, is made up as soon as one remembers: the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to pray it when one remembers, for it has no other expiation than that. The Malikis and Hanbalis draw from it the obligation of immediate makeup, within a normal span, without negligence.
'Imran ibn Husayn reports that while traveling, the company slept until the heat of the sun woke them after the time of fajr; the Prophet answered their complaint: "no harm", ordered them to move on, then stopped, performed ablution, and prayed fajr with the people (al-Bukhari 377, Muslim 682). Whoever has a real excuse may therefore make up with ease; whoever let it pass through negligence hastens his makeup.
Whoever makes up several prayers takes them in order. The manner remains that of the original time: the night prayer made up by day is recited aloud, and the day prayer made up at night silently. Abu Sa'id reports that on the day of the Trench, the company was prevented until after sunset; the Prophet then had Bilal announce dhuhr, asr then maghrib, and he prayed each one with its former quality (al-Bukhari 598, Muslim 209).
Ibn 'Umar teaches: whoever remembers a missed prayer while praying behind the imam completes the present prayer with the imam, then makes up the forgotten prayer, then prays the current one (reported by Malik in the Muwatta).
The severe ruling concerns the denier: al-Mawardi states that whoever abandons the prayer while denying it is a disbeliever, by consensus. An-Nawawi specifies: whoever denies the obligation of the prayer is an apostate by the consensus of the Muslims; but whoever is unaware of it through distance or ignorance must first be informed, and he is not a disbeliever by mere forgetfulness of the ruling.
Missed prayer = makeup, without prolonged remorse. Note it upon remembering, make it up in order, and protect the future with alarms and the habit of early sleep before the sensitive times.