salaah
Question
As salaamu alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakaatuh.
Mufti sahib , I have a question about my salaah .
I am a 72 years old male . I did not start praying regularly until I was about 45 years old .
From the age of puberty until 45 years old , I used to pray now and then but not regularly .
So I have missed many salaah . I have heard that to read all my qadha salaah , I do not have to combine a surah with the first 2 rakaah of a 2 or 3 or 4 rakaah qardh salaah . Recitng just surah Al-Faatihah is sufficient and I do not have to recite subhaana rabbialadhim and subhaana rabbialaa’la 3 times , once will suffice. Is this correct ?. If not , what is the best way of reading all my qadha salaah ?.
Answer
Wa ‘alaykum as-salām wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuhu,
Jazākallāhu khairan for your question. It is commendable that you have begun praying regularly at this stage in your life. Allāh is Most Merciful and appreciates your efforts to fulfill your religious obligations.
When one has the ability and strength, he should complete the Qaḍāʾ (missed prayers) in the same way as the original prayer. A person who missed prayers should not opt for further ease by merely performing the obligatory parts. Instead, the person making up for missed prayers actually ought to incorporate more Istighfār and Adhkār to demonstrate his sincere remorse for not praying on time.
However, if one lacks the ability to perform so many prayers in the best manner due to old age, sickness, or weakness, then he may suffice with the bare minimum of each prayer:
- Starting the Prayer:
- Recite Sūrah al-Fātiḥah immediately after the first Takbīr, omitting the Thanā, Ta‘awwudh, and Tasmiyyah.
- Recite a short Sūrah or at least three small verses. (It is essential to add this)
- Rukūʿ and Sujūd:
- Recite the Tasbīḥ once.
- Final Sitting:
- After the Tashahhud, say: “ṣallAllāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam” and “Rabbighfir Warḥam,” and then complete the prayer with Salām.
By at least doing the bare minimum in this manner, the elderly and weak person demonstrates a sincere desire to settle all outstanding prayers before death overtakes them.
May Allāh make it easy for you to complete all your prayers and bless you with a long and healthy life. Remember, the effort and sincerity you put into your prayers, despite any difficulties, are greatly valued by Allāh.
And Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala knows best.