Tuesday, September 1, 2026

Missed Ṣalāĥ: Definitions of Qaḍā, the Pillars of Repentance, and a Grave Warning

Flames of Fire in the Grave

A man's sister died; when he returned after burying her, he recalled that his pouch of money had dropped into her grave. So he returned to the graveyard in order to dig it out. When he dug it open, he saw a terrifying scene. The flames of fire were blazing in his sister's grave. He quickly filled up the grave again and rushed desperately towards his mother and asked her, "Dear mother! How were the deeds of my sister?" She said, "Son! Why are you asking?" He replied "I've seen flames of fire blazing in her grave." On hearing this, his mother began to cry too and said, "Your sister used to miss her Ṣalāĥ and would offer Ṣalāĥ beyond the stipulated time."

(Kitāb-ul-Kabāir, p. 26)

Dear Islamic brothers! When such bitter torments are for those who offer Ṣalāĥ beyond stipulated time, then how (perilous) would be the end of those who do not offer Ṣalāĥ at all?

If one Forgets to offer Ṣalāĥ then…?

The beloved Rasūl of Allāh صَلَّى اللّٰہ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, "If one misses his Ṣalāĥ due to sleep or forgetfulness, he should offer it when he recalls as it would be time of that Ṣalāĥ (for him)."

(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, pp. 346, Ḥadīš 684)

The reverent Islamic jurists رَحِمَهُمُ اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی say, "If one misses his Ṣalāĥ due to sleep or forgetfulness, it is Farḍ for him to offer it as Qaḍā; there will be no sin of missing the Ṣalāĥ for him in this case. However, he should offer the Ṣalāĥ as soon as he recalls or wakes up provided it is not a Makrūh time, further delay is Makrūh."

(Bahār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 701, vol. 1)

Will the Šawāb of Adā be given if Ṣalāĥ Missed due to Unavoidable Reason?

There is a Fatwa concerning whether or not one will earn the Šawāb of an "Adā" Fajr Ṣalāĥ (offered within prescribed time) in case of offering it as "Qaḍā" Ṣalāĥ (offered beyond stipulated time) due to sleep: A'lā Ḥaḍrat Imām Aḥmad Razā Khān عَلَيْهِ رَحْمَةُ اللّٰہِ الرَّحْمٰن states on page 161 (volume 8) of Fatāwā-e-Razavīyyaĥ, "As far as the Šawāb for the Adā Ṣalāĥ is concerned, it is under the omnipotence of Allāh عَزَّوَجَلَّ. If Allah would see that he was not negligent on his part at all, he had been waking with intention to remain awake till dawn but went into sleep inadvertently, then there will be no sin on his part." The Merciful Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰہ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم states, "Sleeping is not recklessness in any case; recklessness is on part of one who does not offer Ṣalāĥ (despite being awake) until the time of next Ṣalāĥ begins."

(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, pp. 344, Ḥadīš 681)

Sleeping in the Last Part of the Night

If one goes to sleep after the time of Ṣalāĥ had started and resultantly, the time (of Ṣalāĥ) elapsed, rendering the Ṣalāĥ Qaḍā, he will definitely become sinner provided he was not confident enough to wake up nor there was someone who can awake him. In fact, it cannot be permitted to sleep even before the starting of timings of Fajr Ṣalāĥ provided most part of the night was spent in wakefulness and it is almost sure that if one sleeps now, he will not be able to wake within the timings (of Fajr).

(Bahār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 701, vol. 1)

Waking till Late Night

Dear Islamic brothers! If there is a fear of missing Fajr Ṣalāĥ due to staying awake till late hours at night in gatherings of Żikr and Na'at, religious congregations etc. one should sleep in the Masjid in such a case with the intention of I'tikāf or sleep at a place where someone trustworthy for rousing him is available or he should set an alarm clock which can wake him up but one should not depend upon just one timepiece as it may run down or turn off because of being hit by hand in sleep. The reverent scholars رَحِمَهُمُ اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی say, "If one fears that he would miss the Fajr Ṣalāĥ, he is not allowed to stay awake till late hours at night without Shar'ī permission."

(Rad-dul-Muḥtār, pp. 33, vol. 2)

Definitions of Adā, Qaḍā and Wājib-ul-I'ādaĥ

Carrying out commandments within their stipulated timings is called Adā.

Carrying out commandments after the elapsing of stipulated timings is called Qaḍā.

If some flaw occurs in carrying out a commandment, repeating that worship to compensate for that flaw is called I'ādaĥ (Revision).

If Takbīr-e-Taḥrīmaĥ was uttered within the stipulated time, Ṣalāĥ would not become Qaḍā; it is still Adā.

(Dur-re-Mukhtār, pp. 627-632, vol. 2)

But in case of Fajr, Jumu'aĥ, and Eid Ṣalāĥ, it is necessary to perform Salām (of Ṣalāĥ) within the stipulated time; otherwise Ṣalāĥ will not be valid.

(Bahār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 701, vol. 1)

To miss Ṣalāĥ without a lawful exemption is a grave sin. It is Farḍ to perform it as Qaḍā and repent sincerely by heart. By virtue of repentance or an acknowledged Ḥaj إِنْ شَاۤءَاللّٰہ عَزَّوَجَلَّ the sin of delay (in offering the Ṣalāĥ) will be forgiven. Repentance will only be valid if one offers Qaḍā of the missed Ṣalāĥ. Repentance without performing Qaḍā is not repentance because the Ṣalāĥ which was due on him is still due and how can repentance be valid without refraining from sin!

(Rad-dul-Muḥtār, pp. 627, vol. 2)

Ḥaḍrat Sayyidunā Ibn-e-'Abbās رَضِیَ اللّٰہ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُمَا reports that the Prophet of Allāh, the intercessor of Ummaĥ صَلَّى اللّٰہ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, "The one who repents without abandoning sins is like the one who jokes with Allāh عَزَّوَجَلَّ."

(Shu'bul Īmān, pp. 436, vol. 5, Hadīš 7178)

There are Three Pillars of Repentance

Ḥaḍrat 'Allāmaĥ Sayyid Muḥammad Na'im-ud-Dīn Murādābādī رَحْمَةُ اللّٰہِ عَلَيْه says, "There are three pillars of repentance:

1.     Admitting the sin.

2.     Feeling of shame.

3.     Determination to abandon the sin. If the sin is compensable, it must compensate for it. For example, it is necessary for the completion of repentance of the abandoner of Ṣalāĥ to offer the missed Ṣalāĥ as Qaḍā."

(Khazāin-ul-'Irfān, p. 12)

It is Wājib to rouse a Sleeping Person for Ṣalāĥ

If someone is sleeping or he has forgotten to offer Ṣalāĥ, it is Wājib for the other who is aware of it to rouse the sleeping person or remind the one who has forgotten to offer Ṣalāĥ.

(Bahār-e-Sharī'at, pp. 701, vol. 1)

(Otherwise, the one who is aware will be sinner). Remember! Rousing or reminding will be Wājib only if it is almost sure that he would offer Ṣalāĥ; otherwise not.

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