not offering the Ṣalāĥ at proper time, offering Ṣalāĥ by incorrect method, offering the Ṣalāĥ without taking interest, offering the Ṣalāĥ without contemplation, offering the Ṣalāĥ lazily and carelessly.” (Nūr-ul-‘Irfān, p. 958)

Horrible Valley of Hell

There is a mention of the word “Wail” in verse number 4. Ṣadr-ushSharī’aĥ Ḥaḍrat Maulānā Muḥammad Amjad ‘Alī A’ẓamī says, “In Hell, there is a valley that is so horrific that even Hell itself seeks refuge from its severity. This valley is called “Wail” and it is for those who miss their Ṣalāĥ deliberately.” (Baĥār-e-Sharī’at, pp. 347, vol. 1)

Mountains would Melt Down due to Heat

Ḥaḍrat Sayyidunā Imām Muḥammad bin Aḥmad Żaĥabī  says, “It has been said that there is a valley in Hell bearing the name ‘Wail’. If even mountains of the world are put into it, they would melt due to its heat. It is the abode of those who are sluggish in their Ṣalāĥ and offer Ṣalāĥ beyond stipulated time making it Qaḍā, unless they feel ashamed of their recklessness and repent in the court of Allāĥ ” (Kitāb-ul-Kabāir, p. 19)

The Torment of Head-Crushing

The beloved and blessed Prophet said to his blessed companions “Two angels (Jibrāīl and Mīkāīl  came to me tonight and took me to the sanctified land where I saw that a person was lying and another person was standing by his head holding a stone. The standing person was repeatedly crushing his head with the stone and every time his head would heal. I asked the angels, who is he?’ They requested me to proceed further (and after showing me other scenarios of torment) they answered, ‘The first person you saw was the one who had abandoned the Quran having read it and would sleep at the time of Farḍ Ṣalāĥ, (so) he will be punished like that until the Day of Judgement’.” (Saḥīḥ Bukhārī, pp. 425, vol. 4, Ḥadīš 7047)

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 Allāĥ 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).” (Saḥīḥ Muslim, pp. 346, Ḥadīš 684)

The reverent Islamic jurists 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 Makrūĥ time, further delay is Makrūĥ.” (Baĥār-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  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 Allāĥ . 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 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.” (Saḥīḥ 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). (Baĥār-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  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. (Baĥār-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 the sin of delay (in offering the Ṣalāĥ) will be forgiven. (Dur-re-Mukhtār, pp. 626, vol. 2) 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.

Ḥaḍrat Sayyidunā Ibn-e-‘Abbās reports that the Prophet of Allāĥ, the intercessor of Ummaĥ said, “The one who repents without abandoning sins is like the one who jokes with Allāĥ .” (Shu’bul Īmān, pp. 436, vol. 5, Ḥadīš 7178)

There are Three Pillars of Repentance

Ḥaḍrat ‘Allāmaĥ Sayyid Muḥammad Na’īm-ud-Dīn Murādābādī  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 is must to 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. (Baĥār-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.

Wake up, It’s Time for Fajr!

Dear Islamic brothers! Earn heaps of Šawāb by waking up sleeping Islamic brothers for Ṣalāĥ. In the Madanī environment of Dawat-eIslami, waking the Muslims for Ṣalā-tul-Fajr is called ‘Ṣada-e-Madīnaĥ.’ Though Ṣada-e-Madīnaĥ is not Wājib, awaking Muslims for Fajr Ṣalāĥ  is an act of Šawāb which every Muslim should perform. However, care must be taken that no Muslim is distressed on account of calling Ṣadae-Madīnaĥ. An Incident An Islamic brother told me (Sag-e-Madīnaĥ  š         ), “We, a few Islamic brothers, were passing by a lane calling Ṣada-e-Madīnaĥ using a megaphone at the time of Fajr Ṣalāĥ. Meanwhile, interrupting us, a person said that his child who could not sleep all the night had just slept. He requested us not to use the megaphone. We got annoyed with that person as to what type of Muslim he was. We were awaking people for Ṣalāĥ and he was preventing us. By chance, the next day we again moved towards the same lane calling Ṣada-e-Madīnaĥ. The same person was standing in gloom at the verge of the lane and said to us, ‘Today again my son had not slept all the night, he has just gone to sleep, I am standing here to request you people to pass by this lane silently.’

This incident shows that Ṣada-e-Madīnaĥ should be called without using megaphone and even when calling without it, one should not raise his voice so loudly that it disturbs Islamic sisters offering Ṣalāĥ or reciting the Holy Qurān inside homes, patients, aged people and children or those who have fallen asleep after offering the Ṣalāĥ in its earlier time. If someone prevents us from calling Ṣada-e-Madīnaĥ we should humbly apologise to him rather than making arguments with him; further, we should have positive opinion about him as surely no Muslim can oppose awaking people for Ṣalāĥ; most probably, he would be facing some genuine problem. Even if he is an abandoner of Ṣalāĥ, we are still not entitled to behave aggressively. Instead, we should entice him towards Ṣalāĥ politely making our individual effort on any other appropriate occasion.

Apart from Ażān-e-Fajr, care should be taken in using Masjid speakers or sound systems for gatherings in streets or homes making it sure that the sound of the speaker does not disturb those worshipping at homes, patients, infants, sleeping ones etc.

An Incident about ‘Realization of Public Rights’

To be considerate of public rights is extremely necessary. Our past saints were very careful in this regard. Therefore, Ḥujja-tul-Islam Sayyidunā Imām Muḥammad Ghazālī  reports that Sayyidunā Imām Aḥmad bin Ḥanbal  had a student who spent many years in his company acquiring knowledge. One day, as he came, the Imām turned his face away (expressing his annoyance); when the student insisted to let him know the reason of annoyance, he  said, “You have expanded the corner wall of your house up to a man’s height towards the roadside hindering a thoroughfare of the Muslims.” In other words, “How can I be pleased with you whereas you have obstructed the passage of the Muslims!” (Iḥyā-ul-‘Ulūm, pp. 96, vol. 5) This incident contains lesson for those who obstruct public pathways by getting terrace etc. constructed outside their homes.

Offer Qaḍā Ṣalāĥ as Soon as Possible

It is Wājib to offer the missed Qaḍā Ṣalāĥ at the earliest. However, delay is permissible for the sake of earning livelihood for family and meeting personal needs. Therefore, one should keep earning livelihood and offer the Qaḍā Ṣalāĥ in spare times until all Qaḍā Ṣalāĥ are offered. (Dur-re-Mukhtār, pp. 646, vol. 2)

Offer Your Qaḍā Ṣalāĥ in Seclusion

Offer Qaḍā Ṣalāĥ in seclusion; do not reveal it to others even to family members and close friends (for example, do not say like: I missed Fajr Ṣalāĥ today or I am offering Qaḍā of missed Ṣalāĥ of lifetime etc.) as mentioning (your) sin (to others) is Makrūĥ-e-Taḥrīmī and a sin. (Raddul-Muḥtār, pp. 650, vol. 2) Therefore, do not raise hands for the Takbīr of Qunūt while offering Qaḍā of Witr Ṣalāĥ in the presence of others.

Lifetime Qaḍā on the Last Friday of Ramaḍān?

Some people offer Qaḍā of lifetime missed Ṣalāĥ in congregation on the last Friday of Ramaḍān-ul-Mubārak and assume that all the Qaḍā Ṣalāĥ of lifetime has been offered by offering this one Ṣalāĥ; it is nothing but a sheer fallacy. (Baĥār-e-Sharī’at, pp. 708, vol. 1)

Calculation of Qaḍā Ṣalāĥ of the Whole Life

The one who has never offered Ṣalāĥ and now has been blessed with the desire to offer the Qaḍā of lifetime missed Ṣalāĥ should make a computation from the day when he reached puberty. If the date of puberty is not known, it is safer that the man should make computation from the age of 12 years and the woman should do the same from the age of 9 years. (Fatāwā Raḍawiyyah (Jad īd), pp. 154, vol. 8)

Order of Offering Qaḍā Ṣalāĥ

While offering lifetime Qaḍā Ṣalāĥ, one may first offer all Fajr Ṣalāĥ, then all Ẓuĥar Ṣalāĥ and similarly ‘Aṣr, Maghrib and ‘Ishā Ṣalāĥ.

Method of Offering Qaḍā Ṣalāĥ (Ḥanafī)

There are 20 Rak’āt of Qaḍā Ṣalāĥ in a day: two Rak’āt Farḍ of Fajr, four of Ẓuĥar, four of ‘Aṣr, three of Maghrib, four of ‘Ishā and three Rak’āt of Witr (Wājib). Make intention like this, “I am offering the very first Fajr that I missed.” Similar intention may be made for every missed Ṣalāĥ. If one has a large number of missed Ṣalāĥ to offer, it is permissible for him to avail following relaxations:

1. Uttering the Tasbiḥāt in Rukū’ and Sujūd once instead of thrice. However, one must always make sure in all sorts of Ṣalāĥ that he starts uttering the having completely bent for Rukū’ and that he begins to lift his head up from Rukū’ having uttered the Similar care has to be taken in Sajdaĥ. َن ا ’ 
2. Uttering. ‘ three times in the 3rd and 4th Rak’at of Farḍ Ṣalāĥ instead of reciting Sūra-e-Fātiḥaĥ, but remember that Sūrae-Fātiḥaĥ and a Sūraĥ are to be recited in all the three Rak’āt of Witr. 
3. In the last Qa’daĥ, performing the Salām having uttered just ‘ after Tashaĥĥud without reciting the remaining Durūd Sharīf and Du’ā. 
4. Uttering just ‘once or three times instead of the supplication of Qunūt in the third Rak’āt of Witr after uttering .Fatāwā Raḍawiyyah (Jad īd), pp. 157, vol. 8)