I have a sister who did not keep up with her prayers until recently, and she wishes to make expiation for the prayers she did not perform in the past years. Does repentance, O honorable Shaykh, suffice for that, or is it obligatory for her to make them up?
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The questioner : I have a sister who did not keep up with her prayers until recently, and she wishes to make expiation for the prayers she did not perform in the past years. Does repentance, O honorable Shaykh, suffice for that, or is it obligatory for her to make them up?
The Shaykh : If this woman who left off prayer for a period then Allah granted her guidance, and she repented to Allah and did a righteous deed, then she is not required to make up the prayers that have passed. This is because prayer is restricted to specific times and is not valid outside of them except for an excuse. Allah the Blessed and Exalted said:[An-Nisa 4:103] If a person performs prayer outside of its time without an excuse, it is not accepted from him, even if he prays it a thousand times, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Sahih Muslim 1718b Accordingly, the person who left off prayer without an excuse has no option but to repent to Allah the Mighty and Majestic, do a righteous deed, and increase in voluntary prayers and other righteous deeds. By this, Allah will accept his repentance. Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Furqan 25:68-71] Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, honorable Shaykh. One of the listeners, also from Sudan, says.
The Shaykh : If this woman who left off prayer for a period then Allah granted her guidance, and she repented to Allah and did a righteous deed, then she is not required to make up the prayers that have passed. This is because prayer is restricted to specific times and is not valid outside of them except for an excuse. Allah the Blessed and Exalted said:
Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.
إِنَّ الصَّلاةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَابًا مَوْقُوتًاHe who did any act for which there is no sanction from our behalf, that is to be rejected.
من عمل عملاً ليس عليه أمرنا فهو رد(68) And those who do not invoke with Allah another deity or kill the soul which Allah has forbidden [to be killed], except by right, and do not commit unlawful sexual intercourse. And whoever should do that will meet a penalty. (69) Multiplied for him is the punishment on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein humiliated - (70) Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. For them Allah will replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful. (71) And he who repents and does righteousness does indeed turn to Allah with [accepted] repentance.
وَالَّذِينَ لا يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَهاً ءاخَرَ وَلا يَقْتُلُونَ النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ وَلا يَزْنُونَ وَمَنْ يَفْعَلْ ذَلِكَ يَلْقَ أَثَاماً * يُضَاعَفْ لَهُ الْعَذَابُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَيَخْلُدْ فِيهِ مُهَاناً * إِلَّا مَنْ تَابَ وَءامَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا فَأُوْلَئِكَ يُبَدِّلُ اللَّهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ حَسَنَاتٍ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَحِيمًا * وَمَنْ تَابَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَإِنَّهُ يَتُوبُ إِلَى اللَّهِ مَتَابًاThe questioner : May Allah reward you, honorable Shaykh. One of the listeners, also from Sudan, says.