Missed Contact Prayers

Article courtesy of www.masjidtucson.org

Question: Can we make up for a missed Contact Prayer by praying it later during the day?

The Contact Prayer, if missed, cannot be made up. Each Contact Prayer is only valid from the time it becomes due until the next prayer becomes due, except for the Dawn Prayer (Fajr salat) which is valid from dawn until sunrise (not until the time the Noon Prayer [Zuhr] becomes due). One of the traits of a believer is to observe Contact Prayers on time.

[70:34] They consistently observe their contact prayers (Salat) on time.

What should we do if we miss a contact prayer for some reason? We see an answer in the Quran (38:30-35). We should repent to God and seek His forgiveness. When we repent to God, we make a firm commitment not to repeat it again. Being human we will continue to make mistakes, but we have to try our utmost to do a better job in submission to God. If we make a mistake again, we repent and seek His forgiveness once more. We should continue to implore God to help us observe the prayers consistently. God will make everything easy for us. Abraham's prayer in 14:40 is a good example for us:

(sub-title) The Contact Prayers: Gift From God

[14:40] "My Lord, make me one who consistently observes the Contact Prayers (Salat), and also my children. Our Lord, please answer my prayers.

God makes it easy for us to observe the contact prayers (salat). In Quran 2:239, God says:

[2:239] Under unusual circumstances, you may pray while walking or riding. Once you are safe, you shall commemorate GOD as He taught you what you never knew.

Often people will miss praying their Salat because they do not find it convenient to say it with bowing and prostration at the place they are located. For example it may be hard to bow and prostrate in our work environment, crowded shopping mall, driving a car, etc. Instead of missing the prayer all together, we should say it while seated, standing or walking. The Contact Prayers are a great gift from God to our soul, and missing it is like turning away a very valuable present from our best friend.

It is important to keep God as our priority and observe the Contact Prayers. Remembering and worshipping God, is the purpose of our lives, the most important objective.

(sub-title) The Contact Prayers (Salat)

[29:45] You shall recite what is revealed to you of the scripture, and observe the Contact Prayers (Salat), for the Contact Prayers prohibit evil and vice. But the remembrance of GOD (through Salat) is the most important objective.* GOD knows everything you do.

Footnote *29:45 Your god is whatever occupies your mind most of the time