Salat al-Qada (Makeup Prayer)

Salat al-Qada (Arabic: صلاة القضاء) is a makeup prayer performed after the prayer's regular time (waqt) has expired. If a Muslim misses an obligatory prayer — whether due to forgetfulness, sleep, illness, or negligence — it is obligatory to make it up as qada as soon as possible.

In Shia fiqh, qada prayer is obligatory (wajib) and cannot be forgiven without being prayed. Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: "If a man misses a prayer, he must pray it when he remembers it. He should not have a prayer ahead of him or behind him without having prayed it" (Wasail al-Shia by al-Hurr al-Amili, vol. 8). This hadith underscores that qada prayers have high priority.

The rules for qada in Shia jurisprudence include: (1) The order (tartib) between qada prayers must be maintained — one prays them in the order they were missed. (2) A son is, according to many Islamic scholars, obligated to pray his deceased parents' missed prayers (qada al-walidayn). (3) Qada prayers can be prayed at any time — there is no restriction on the timing. (4) One can pray qada prayers in congregation (jama'ah).

Islamic scholars explain that the one who has many qada prayers should try to make them up gradually and consistently. It is permitted to pray qada prayers between the daily prayers, and they should not be unnecessarily delayed. For the believer, qada prayer is not merely a duty, but an opportunity to restore one's connection with Allah and demonstrate sincerity in worship.