Question:
Is it permissible for us to qadha’ (replace) a sunnah prayer that we missed?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
The issue of replacing sunnah prayer has been discussed by scholars. According to Imam al-Nawawi, sunnah prayers are divided into two:
- Of which are not bound to time and is performed due to certain incidents, such as the eclipse, asking for rain and tahiyyatul masjid. These types of sunnah prayer cannot be replaced.
- Of which are bound to time, for example the sunnah prayer for the two eids and rawatib sunnah prayers and there are three opinions regarding this type of sunnah prayers. The accurate opinion states that it is sunnah to replace the missed sunnah prayers.
This is also the opinion of Muhammad bin al-Hasan and al-Muzani as well as the opinion of Imam Ahmad as stated by Imam al-Mardawi and Syeikhul Islam Ibn Taimiyyah. (Refer: Al-Majmu’ Syarh al-Muhazzab 4/41, Al-Insaf2/187 dan Majmu’ al-Fatawa 23/127)
While according to Imam Abu Hanifah, Imam Malik and Qadhi Abu Yusof, it is impermissible to replace sunnah prayers. (Refer Al-Majmu’ Syarh al-Muhazzab 4/43)
There are numerous hadiths that supports the opinion that it is sunnah to replace any sunnah prayer that are missed. Among them is a narration from Ummu Salamah RA, where she said:
شُغِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنِ الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ الْعَصْرِ فَصَلاَّهُمَا بَعْدَ الْعَصْرِ
"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) got distracted and did not pray the two Rak'ahs before 'Asr so he prayed them after 'Asr."
Sunan al-Nasaie (587)
From Abu Hurairah RA, the Prophet PBUH said:
مَنْ لَمْ يُصَلِّ رَكْعَتَىِ الْفَجْرِ فَلْيُصَلِّهِمَا بَعْدَ مَا تَطْلُعُ الشَّمْسُ
"Whoever did not pray the two Rak'ah (before) Fajr then let him pray them after the sun has risen."
Sunan al-Tirmizi (423)
It is narrated from Qays bin Amir:
رَأَى النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ رَجُلًا يُصَلِّي بَعْدَ صَلاةِ الصُّبْحِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ . فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : أَصَلاةَ الصُّبْحِ مَرَّتَيْنِ ؟ فَقَالَ لَهُ الرَّجُلُ : إِنِّي لَمْ أَكُنْ صَلَّيْتُ الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ اللَّتَيْنِ قَبْلَهُمَا ، فَصَلَّيْتُهُمَا . قَالَ : فَسَكَتَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ
“The Prophet (ﷺ) saw a man praying two Rak’ah after the Subh prayer and said, ‘Is the Subh prayer to be offered twice?’ The man said to him: ‘I did not pray the two Rak’ah before it, so I prayed them (now).’ The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) remained silent.”
Sunan Abu Daud (1267) and Sunan Ibn Majah (1209)
The same is stated in a hadith from Aisyah R.Anha:
أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ إِذَا لَمْ يُصَلِّ أَرْبَعًا قَبْلَ الظُّهْرِ صَلاَّهُنَّ بَعْدَهُ
"When the Prophet PBUH would not perform the four Rak'ah before Az-Zuhr he would pray them after it."
Sunan al-Tirmizi (426)
The same is applicable for sunnah witir prayer, where Abu Sa’id al-Khudri narrated:
مَنْ نَامَ عَنِ الْوِتْرِ أَوْ نَسِيَهُ فَلْيُصَلِّ إِذَا ذَكَرَ وَإِذَا اسْتَيْقَظَ
"Whoever sleeps past Al-Witr or forgets it, then let him pray it when he remembers it or when he awakens."
Sunan al-Tirmizi (465), Sunan Abu Dawud (1431) and Sunan Ibn Majah (1244)
Conclusion
To conclude, we choose the opinion that states it is Sunnah to replace sunnah prayers that are bound to time such as the sunnah eid prayers, sunnah rawatib prayers and sunnah witir prayer. As for sunnah prayers because of certain occasions such as eclipse, then it is impermissible to be replaced.
This opinion is supported by numerous evidences from the hadith of the Prophet PBUH in terms of the Prophet PBUH’s words, actions and iqrar (consent).
Wallahua’lam.