Fatwaa ID: 1822

Question:

1. If I join a jamaat late and miss one or more rakaat, when I stand up at the end to make them up, do I make up the rakaats I missed or add rakaats until the total number needed is achieved?

Example: I join maghrib jamaat in the 3rd rakaat (before rukuh). I pray it with everyone and sit, then stand up after the imam has given salaams to make up the two rakaats I missed. Now after the sujoods of my first “make up” rakaat, would I sit (because this is my second overall rakaat and you sit after two in maghrib) or would I stand and pray the second “make up” rakaat and then sit (because I’m making up the 1st and 2nd rakaat of maghrib and you sit after the 2nd not the first).

2. What is the proper way of correcting a mistake done in prayer? For example missing a sajda or forgetting the ruku. Please answer from a Hanafi perspective if possible.
3. I worship Allah because I love Him, and sometimes have cried out of that love. However, Allah praises those who fear him. My fear of Him keeps me away from sins, but I feel as if I fear Him too little. How can I fear Him more without it overcoming my love for Him?

Answer:
In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salaamu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullaahi wa-barakaatuh.

1. In principle, according to the Shaafi’ee legal school, a late comer/masbooq will complete his salaah. According to the Hanafi legal school, he will make up the missed rak’ahs in terms of recitation but complete it in terms of action. The difference will be seen generally in adding a recitation after the Faatihah.
   In the enquired example, you will sit for tashahhud. You will not stand up immediately after sujood. This is according to both legal schools.
2. If a person misses a waajib act, then he should atone for it by performing Sajdah Sahw at the end of the salaah. If he remembers after he has already completed the salaah, then he should repeat the salaah provided that the time of that salaah is still remaining. If the time has ended, then he does not have to repeat it. However, istighfaar should be made.
   If a person misses a fardh/rukn act, then he should perform it immediately when he remembers it provided that he is still in salaah. Thereafter, he should perform Sajdah Sahw. If he remembers it after completing the salaah, then the salaah will have to be repeated.
3. May Allaah Ta’aala grant us all His love and fear. The love of Allaah Ta’aala and His fear go together. The fear of Allaah Ta’aala is a result of the love that you have for Him. A person should love Allaah Ta’aala so much that he fears displeasing Him. What if I do something displeasing to Him that results in me losing Him and/or His love? That is the fear that we ought to have. This love then drives us towards doing righteous deeds and staying away from evil deeds. This love and fear push us to live our lives as true disciplined humans beings, in accordance to the sunnah of His beloved, Muhammad ﷺ. We maintain and enhance this love and fear by having the consciousness (istihdhaar) of Allaah Ta’aala. He is with me and He sees every aspect and moment of my life. How can I then do anything that is inappropriate?

And Allaah Ta’aala knows best.
Mufti Muajul I. Chowdhury
Darul Iftaa New York
https://askthemufti.us/

03/23/1445 AH – 10/09/2023 CE

وصل اللهم وسلم وبارك على سيدنا محمد وعلى ءاله وصحبه أجمعين

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