Salah guide · qada
How to make up missed prayers
It is never too late to return. Here is what scholars say about making up prayers, and a simple plan to do it.
A prayer that was not prayed in its time is made up (qada) by praying it later with the same number of fard rak'ahs. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever forgets a prayer, let him pray it when he remembers it; there is no expiation for it except that” (Sahih al-Bukhari 597, Sahih Muslim 684). The qada calculator estimates how many you have and a pace to finish.
Which prayers are made up
- Forgotten or slept through: made up as soon as you remember (Sahih Muslim 684). When the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions slept past Fajr on a journey, they prayed it after sunrise (Sahih Muslim 680).
- Left on purpose: the four schools hold these are made up too, with sincere repentance. A minority, including Ibn Hazm, held that repentance and extra voluntary prayer take their place. All agree repentance is needed.
- During menstruation or postpartum bleeding: not made up, by agreement. 'A'ishah said: “We were told to make up the fasts, and not told to make up the prayers” (Sahih Muslim 335).
- Before puberty or while insane: not made up, since the person was not yet accountable (Sunan Abi Dawud 4403).
How to make up prayers, step by step
- Repent sincerely. If a prayer was left without an excuse, turn to Allah in tawbah: regret, stop, and resolve not to return.
- Estimate how many. If you do not know the number, make an honest best estimate. Lean toward the higher number if unsure.
- Pray them as they were due. Pray each with the same number of fard rak'ahs as the original, with the intention of the prayer being made up.
- Keep a steady pace. Pick a pace you can keep, such as one make-up prayer with each daily prayer, and track what you finish.
- Keep praying on time. Do not let today's prayers slip while making up old ones. Today's prayers come first in time.
Order (tartib): Hanafis and Malikis require making up a small number in order, and before the current prayer, unless time is short; for Hanafis this no longer applies once six or more have accumulated. Hanbalis require order. Shafi'is recommend order but do not require it. Witr is made up by Hanafis, as it is wajib for them. A traveller's shortened prayers are made up shortened, by most schools.
Make-up prayers can be prayed at any time except the moments when prayer is disliked, such as during sunrise, at the zenith and during sunset, according to most schools. The fard of make-up prayers takes priority over voluntary prayers for many scholars, though the confirmed sunnahs, especially before Fajr, are kept.
Estimate yours with the qada calculator
Do not let the number stop you. Scholars advise an honest estimate and a pace you can keep. Our free qada calculator works out a rough total from when you became accountable, how often you prayed, and days excused each month, and shows how long it might take at one, three or more prayers a week. Nothing you enter is saved or sent.
For fasts that were not kept, see the fidya and kaffarah calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make the intention for a make-up prayer?
Intend in your heart the specific prayer, for example “the Fajr I am making up”. If you have many, Hanafi scholars suggest intending “the first (or last) Fajr that I have to make up”.
Do I make up the sunnah prayers too?
Only the fard, and Witr for Hanafis. Sunnah prayers are not made up, with some exceptions such as the 2 sunnah of Fajr when prayed with Fajr before midday.
Can I pray make-up prayers after Asr or Fajr?
Yes, for most scholars. The disliked times after Fajr and Asr apply to voluntary prayers, not to making up fard prayers, but avoid the moments of sunrise, the zenith and sunset.
I have years of prayers to make up. Where do I start?
Repent, estimate the number with the qada calculator, and start today with one make-up prayer alongside each daily prayer. Small and steady is better than a burst you cannot keep.
Can someone else pray my missed prayers for me?
No. Prayer is a personal act of worship and cannot be done on behalf of a living person.
The salah guide
Keep going
Track your qada, gently
Niyat's Qada tracking keeps a private count of the prayers you make up, with one quiet reminder a day. Prayer times, adhan alerts and Salah Lock help you keep today's prayers on time.
Download Niyat for iPhone Get it on Google PlayThis guide explains common practice with its sources. It is not a fatwa. Where your situation is unusual, ask a scholar you trust.