Missing a prayer happens — whether through sleep, forgetfulness, or even negligence. Islam doesn’t close the door on you when that happens. Instead, it offers a path back, rooted in mercy and responsibility. This article walks through how to make up missed prayers, what the scholars say, and how to build consistency going forward.
💡 Note: A new Muslim, or revert, does not need to make up prayers from before they embraced Islam.1
When It’s Okay (and Required) to Make Up a Missed Prayer
If you miss a prayer due to forgetfulness or oversleeping, you are not sinful. But you are still required to make it up. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said of these instances:
“There is no negligence when one sleeps, rather negligence is when one is awake. If any one of you forgets a prayer or sleeps and misses it, let him pray it when he remembers it. There is no expiation for it except that.”
The key is to pray it as soon as you remember, not to delay it further.
When Missing a Prayer Is a Sin
If a person misses a prayer deliberately, without a valid reason, it is a major sin according to scholarly consensus.4
There are two opinions on what to do in this case:
- Majority view (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i, most Hanbali): You must make up the missed prayer (qadaa) and sincerely repent.5
- Minority view (e.g., some Hanbali scholars like Ibn Taymiyyah, Al-Uthaymin, and others): You cannot make it up; the sin remains, but repentance and extra good deeds can help atone.6
Either way, repentance is essential. Ask Allah for forgiveness, and recommit to prayer.
How to Make Up Missed Prayers
- Begin with niyyah (intention) for the specific prayer being made up.
- Perform the qadaa prayer as you would normally, including the number of rakahs.
- It’s recommended to pray them in chronological order, but flexibility exists if you’re unsure of the sequence.
- You can make up prayers at any time, although it’s better to avoid the three prohibited times (sunrise, zenith, sunset).
What If I’ve Missed Years of Prayers?
Some Muslims return to regular prayer after years away and wonder: Do I have to make up every single one?
Two Scholarly Views:
- Make up what you can gradually
- Example: with every current prayer, add one or two missed prayers.
- Dr. Suad Salih and others support this approach.7
- Repent sincerely and increase voluntary prayers
- Scholars like Ibn Taymiyyah said that if someone repents sincerely and is consistent in nafl (voluntary) prayers, Allah may forgive past neglect.8
“With regard to making up acts of worship that you did not do, such as prayer and fasting, there are two scholarly opinions. Some of the scholars think that it is obligatory to make them up; this is the view of the majority…[Other scholars think] that he does not have to make up what he did not do; rather what he must do is repent, and pray and fast regularly from now on…in the hope that Allah will accept his repentance.”
— Shaykh Muhammad Saalih al-Munajjid9
The effort itself is beloved to Allah. Start somewhere, and trust that He sees your sincerity.
Preventing Missed Prayers in the Future
- Set alarms and/or download an app with prayer reminders (like Athan, Muslim Pro, or Pillars).
- Build your daily schedule around prayer times.
- Pray in congregation whenever possible.
- Make dua: “O Allah, help me remember You, thank You, and worship You properly.”
For more on the topic of missed prayers, here is a helpful talk by Mufti Menk:
- Did you miss a prayer?
Speaker: Mufti Ismail ibn Musa Menk
Remember that your prayers (salah) are the first thing that will protect you in the grave, and are the first thing you will be asked about on the day of judgement as the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
“The first thing for which a person will be brought to account on the Day of Resurrection will be his prayer. If it is complete, then the voluntary (prayers) will also be recorded for him (as an increase). If it is not complete then Allah will say to His angels: ‘Look and see whether you find any voluntary prayers for My slave, and take them to make up what is lacking from his obligatory prayers.’ Then all his deeds will be reckoned in like manner.”
— Sunan Ibn Majah, 142610
Final Thoughts
Missing a prayer isn’t the end of your story. It’s an invitation to return. Whether it was one missed salah or a long absence, Islam encourages a prompt and hopeful comeback.
By making up missed prayers, repenting sincerely, and trying again, you demonstrate your love for Allah. That effort matters. And Allah is Most Merciful (Ar-Rahmaan), Most Appreciative (Ash-Shaakoor) of those who turn back to Him.
💬 Comments
Have questions or experiences to share?
Drop them in the comments below. Let’s grow together in our worship.
References
- Irshaad Sedick, “Do New Muslims Need to Make Up Missed Prayers after Converting?,” Seekers Guidance, 2024, https://seekersguidance.org/answers/prayer/do-new-muslims-need-to-make-up-missed-prayers-after-converting-shaykh-irshaad-sedick/. ↩︎
- Ahmad an-Nasa’i, Sunan an-Nasa’i, Hadith 615, https://sunnah.com/nasai:615. ↩︎
- Abu Dawood, Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith 442, https://sunnah.com/abudawud:442. ↩︎
- Assim al-Hakeem, “Punishment for people who miss a prayer without valid reason, is it considered as kufr,” assimalhakeem, YouTube video, 2021, https://youtu.be/Hoxd28wzLgs. ↩︎
- Faraz Rabbani, “About Making Up Missed Prayers & Sticking To Confirmed Sunnas,” IslamQA.org, https://islamqa.org/hanafi/qibla-hanafi/36526/about-making-up-missed-prayers-sticking-to-confirmed-sunnas/. ↩︎
- Muhammad al-Munajjid, “Ruling on making up missed prayers,” IslamQA.info, Fatwa #13664, 2002, https://islamqa.info/en/answers/13664/ruling-on-making-up-missed-prayers. ↩︎
- Ahmad Kutty & Suad Salih, “Do You Have to Make Up Years of Missed Prayers?,” AboutIslam.net, 2024, https://aboutislam.net/counseling/ask-the-scholar/prayer/making-up-for-years-of-missed-prayer/. ↩︎
- “Ibn Taymiyyah’s view on making up for missed prayers,” IslamWeb.net, Fatwa #356338, 2017, https://www.islamweb.net/en/fatwa/356338/ibn-taymiyyahs-view-on-making-up-for-missed-prayers. ↩︎
- Muhammad al-Munajjid, “He has repented from not praying or giving zakah; does he have to make them up?,” IslamQA.info, Fatwa #197247, 2014, https://islamqa.info/en/answers/197247/he-has-repented-from-not-praying-or-giving-zakah-does-he-have-to-make-them-up. ↩︎
- Muhammad Ibn Majah, Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 1426, https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah:1426. ↩︎