Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly – there are some times at which the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) disallowed prayer. These are:
1 – From after Fajr prayer until the sun has appeared and
risen to the height of a spear, i.e., approximately fifteen minutes. (al-Sharh
al-Mumti’, 4/162).
2 – The time when the sun is at its zenith in the middle of
the sky. This is a short time before the time for Zuhr prayer begins,
approximately one-quarter of an hour or twenty minutes. (Fataawa
al-Shaykh Ibn Baaz, 11/286). Some of the scholars said that it was
shorter than that. Ibn Qaasim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said that it is
a brief time period, not even long enough to pray, only enough to say the
takbeer to start the prayer. (Haashiyat Ibn Qaasim ‘ala’l-Rawd
al-Murabba’, 2/245)
3 – After ‘Asr prayer until the sun sets.
These three times were mentioned in many ahaadeeth in which
the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade praying
at these times. These ahaadeeth include the following:
1 – Al-Bukhaari (586) and Muslim (728) narrated that Abu
Sa’eed al-Khudri (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “The Messenger of
Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘There is no
prayer after ‘Asr prayer until the sun has set, and no prayer after Fajr
prayer until the sun has risen.’”
2 – Muslim (832) narrated that ‘Amr ibn ‘Abasah al-Sulami
(may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “I said, ‘O Prophet of Allaah, tell
me what Allaah has taught you and I do not know, tell me about the prayer.’
The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
said: ‘Pray Subh (Fajr) prayer, then do not pray until the sun has appeared
and risen… then pray for your prayer is witnessed and attended (by the
angels), until the shadow of a spear points due north – which is the time
when the sun is in the middle of the sky – then stop praying, for at that
time Hell is stoked up. When the shadow turns – which is the beginning of
the time for Zuhr – then pray, for your prayer is witnessed and attended (by
the angels), until you pray ‘Asr. Then stop praying until the sun sets…”
Secondly: what is meant by making up prayers (qada’) is doing
the prayer after the time for that prayer is over. The made-up prayer may be
either fard (obligatory) or naafil (supererogatory).
Fard prayers: The Muslims must
pray regularly at the times defined by Allaah for each prayer. Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):
“Verily, As‑Salaah (the prayer) is enjoined on the
believers at fixed hours”[al-Nisa’ 4:103]
Delaying the prayer until its time is over without a reason
or excuse is haraam, and it is a major sin.
If the Muslim has an excuse, such as sleeping or forgetting,
and he was not able to do the prayer on time, then he must make up the
prayer when that reason no longer applies, even if that is at one of the
times when prayer is disallowed. This is the view of the majority of
scholars. See al-Mughni, 2/515.
The evidence for that is the words of the Prophet (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him): “Whoever sleeps and misses the prayer
or forgets it, let him pray it when he remembers.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari,
597; Muslim, 684)
Naafil prayers:
the scholars differed with regard to making them up at times when prayer is
disallowed. The correct view is that they should be made up. This is the
view of al-Shaafa’i (may Allaah have mercy on him). See al-Majmoo’,
4/170. It was also the view favoured by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may
Allaah have mercy on him), as stated in al-Fataawa, 23/127. This is
indicated by a number of ahaadeeth, such as:
The report narrated by
al-Bukhaari (1233) and Muslim (834) from Umm Salamah (may Allaah be pleased
with her), that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
prayed two rak’ahs after ‘Asr, and she asked him about that. He said: “Some
people from ‘Abd al-Qays came to me and distracted me from praying two
rak’ahs after Zuhr, so I did them now.”
Ibn Maajah (1154)
narrated that Qays ibn ‘Amr said: the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) saw a man praying two rak'ahs after he had prayed Fajr
prayer. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said,
“Are you praying Fajr twice?” The man said to him, “I did not pray the two
rak’ahs that come before it, so I prayed them now.” The Prophet (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) remained silent. This was classed as
saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Ibn Maajah (984). Ibn Qudaamah (may
Allaah have mercy on him) said: the fact that the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) remained silent indicates that it is
permissible. (al-Mughni, 2/532).
And Allaah knows best.
May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad and grant him peace.