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:

salam aleikom
my question is about making up missed sunnah prayers, i long time ago heard there is a hadith of our prophet(saws) narrating that the prophet was once seen praying after the asr. The companions asked him what he was praying and our prophet answered he was praying one of the dohr sunnah as he missed it.
can you please confirm this hadith?
is it correct to make up missed sunnah prayers?

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Answer:

Missed sunnah after asr

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 none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: can you please confirm this hadith?
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 2.325 Narrated byKuraib

Umm Salama (r.a.) sent her slave girl to the Messenger of Allah (saws) having said to her, 'Stand beside him and tell him that Um Salama says to you, "O Allah's Messenger (saws)! I have heard you forbidding the offering of these (two Rakat ‘Nafl’ after the 'Asr prayer) but I have seen you offering them." If he (saws) waves his hand then wait for him.' The slave girl did that. The Prophet (saws) beckoned her with his hand and she waited for him. When he (saws) had finished the prayer he said, "O daughter of Bani Umaiya, you have asked me about the two Rakat after the Asr prayer. The people of the tribe of Abdul-Qais came to me and made me busy and I could not offer the two Rakat after the Dhuhr prayer. These (two Rakat that I have just prayed) are for those (missed) ones."

The hadith is considered authentic and indeed there is evidence in the Sunnah that the Messenger of Allah (saws) once offered a two rakah ‘nafl’ prayer after the obligatory ‘Asr’ prayer; but that was definitely not the normal practice or Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws). He absolutely discouraged the believers from offering any prayers after one had completed their ‘Asr’ prayers until the sun had completely set and the time of ‘Magrib’ had started.

Your Question: is it correct to make up missed sunnah prayers?
There is enough evidence in the authentic and established Sunnah that the believers are permitted to offer their missed ‘Sunnah’ prayers beyond their prescribed times, if indeed they wish to do so.

The only times when the believers are absolutely forbidden to offer any type of prayer are:

Amr ibn 'Abbas related that he said, "O Prophet of Allah, inform me about the prayers." He said, "Pray the morning prayer, and then abstain from prayer until sunrise and the sun has completely risen, for it rises between the horns of Shaitaan. That is when the unbelievers prostrate to it. Then pray, as your prayer will be witnessed and attended to until the shadow of a spear becomes less than its length. At that time stop praying, for at that time the hell-fire is fed with fuel. When the shade comes, you may pray, for your prayer will be witnessed and attended (to by Angels) until you pray the afternoon prayer. Then abstain from praying until the sun sets, for its sets between the horns of Shaitaan, and that is when the unbelievers make prostrations to it."

Related by Ahmad and Muslim.

In light of the above absolutely clear guidance of the Messenger of Allah(saws), the believers are prohibited from offering their prayers during these times:

1.      In the morning when the sun is seen rising from the eastern horizon until it has completely risen.

2.      When the sun is approaching its zenith at mid-day, until it has moved a little west.

3.      In the evening when the sun is seen setting in the horizon until it has completely set.

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