479. Not to perform missed salah after the time limit is over, at a later time.
Verse (4:103) declares worship times are fixed (for the day with their limitations). .
The five times worship of the Almighty has to be performed within the fixed timings set as per the movement of the sun, and not delay or postpone them. Some take for granted the timings of the five times worship, with lethargy postpone the performance of their worship as per their will, and name the worship as (Kalah) ‘missed salah’. This verse can be seen to point out this kind of performance of muslim worship (missing a particular time worship and fulfilling it at a later time) is wrong.
When it is stipulated the timings of salah are fixed, it needs to be followed strictly.
Though there is a stipulation that fasting needs to be observed in the month of Ramadan, there is an exception for the sick, and those in journey. But there is no exception in the case of ‘salah,’ and people who are not in position to offer their worship (salah) at that particular time cannot perform the same at a later time.
When a person is unable to stand up and offer worship, Islam does not require him to perform the same, only when he is able to stand up and, it requires him to carry out the salah in the fixed time in the manner allowed.
Islam commands people to perform ‘Dayammam’ in case one cannot perform ablution due to non-availability or scarcity of water and, it does not order people to stop the offering of salah till the availability of water. All these points point to the task of fulfilling salah at the appropriate timings.
Prophet Muhammad has said to make up the missed fasting days due to menstrual period, and not to compensate the missed salah.
There is permission to compensate the missed fasting days after the month of Ramadan is over, but it is not the case with missed salah, once the time limits for salah has lapsed there is no permission to carry out the missed worship. But the fasting days that are missed by a person while she is in her menstrual period can be compensated in her normal days, the salah that has been missed during these days due to the prohibition on them, cannot be compensated by carrying out the same in her normal days. Hence we come to understand, timing in salah is more important between it and fasting.
Prophet Muhammad has clearly indicated the beginning and end timings of each of the five times salah, hence we need to complete the salah within their stipulated timings.
If a person forgetfully skips salah he needs to offer the same as soon as he realizes it, or perform the salah immediately on waking up when he has overslept.
Prophet Muhammad said: Whoever has forgetfully skipped salah, let him offer it as soon as he realizes. And there is no remedy other than it.
Book : Bukhari 597.
Prophet Muhammad said, whoever missed a salah let him offer the same immediately as soon as he realizes it.
Book: Muslim 1216
There are no reasons other than forgetfulness and sleep for one to excuse oneself from offering salah.
At times of travel pairing of Luhar and Asar and Maghrib with Isha, can be offered on the basis of Jamvu provision in the Islamic law, with a tolerance of time limits. An exception is allowed here.
Though not in a journey as a rare gesture an exception is allowed to offer the Luhar and Asar salah at a fixed time and Maghrib and Isha at a fixed time for those at home. (Bukhari 545)
Other than this no salah is to be offered out of turn in case a certain time salah is missed, it is not to be offered as a compensatory one. To seek forgiveness from the Almighty is the only way out for having missed salah.
But there came after them successors who neglected worship and pursued desires; so they are going to meet evil –
Except those who repent, believe and do righteousness; for those will enter Paradise and will not be wronged at all.
The Quran 19:59,60
The Almighty talks about in this verse of the Quran about some people who are yet to come into this world, saying they will keep away from worshipping the Almighty. And says if their prayer for forgiveness is to be fruitful, they must repent and seek forgiveness from the Lord, here we see the Almighty does not ask them for the offering of the left out salah by those people.
Hence, except in the case of forgetfulness, sleep, and travel, those missing the obligatory worshipping should sincerely seek forgiveness from the Lord and make attempts to worship all the five times a day.
