Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

can a person give kaffara for his or her missed prayers?

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Kaffara for missing prayers

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 103:

Indeed the Salaat is a prescribed duty that should be performed by the believers at their appointed times.

It has been reported in an authentic narration that: a man came to the Prophet (saws) and said “ O Prophet of Allah (saws), what is the act or deed most loved by Allah?”

The Prophet (saws) replied: “To pray ones prayers on time.”

The man asked further: “What (deed or act is most loved by Allah) next?”

The Prophet (saws) replied: “Obedience to ones parents.”

The man asked further: “What (deed or act is most loved by Allah) next?”

The Prophet (saws) replied: “Jihaad in the Way of Allah.”

It is not lawful for a believer to intentionally miss his obligatory prayers on the times appointed by Allah Subhanah. If for any reason, one has overslept, or forgotten and thus missed his obligatory prayer at its appointed time, one must seek the forgiveness of Allah Subhanah and must offer the prayers ‘qada’ as soon as one remembers it.

Anas reported that the Prophet (saws) said, "Whoever forgets a prayer should pray it when he remembers it, and there is no expiation (kaffarah) for it save that."

Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

There is absolutely no ‘kaffarah’ or atonement for a missed prayer in Shariah except to pray it ‘qada’.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan