Islamversity

In the practice of Islam, performing the five daily prayers, known as Salah or Namaz, is a fundamental and obligatory act of worship. Muslims are encouraged to perform these prayers at their appointed times to maintain a strong connection with Allah and seek His guidance and blessings throughout the day.

However, life can sometimes get in the way, causing one to miss a prayer or forget it. This raises the question: Can Qaza Namaz be prayed the next day?

To shed light on this matter, we turn to the guidance provided by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his companions, as recorded in hadiths.

What is Qaza Prayer?

Qaza namaz refers to the act of making up for missed or forgotten obligatory prayers. These are the five daily Salah (Namaz) that Muslims are required to perform at specific times throughout the day and night. If a person fails to offer a prayer within its designated time frame, they must make amends by performing the missed prayer later when they remember or have the opportunity to do so.

Narrated Anas:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “If anyone forgets a prayer he should pray that prayer when he remembers it. There is no expiation except to pray the same.” Then he recited: “Establish prayer for My (i.e. Allah’s) remembrance.” (20.14).

~ Sahih al-Bukhari Hadith 597

Qaza Prayer is essential and must be carried out in the exact manner as the missed prayer. If you missed two rakats of prayer, you must pray two rakats of Qaza. If you were travelling and were praying shortened prayers (qasr) you will pray the shortened prayer as Qaza, not the full version.

Qaza is mandatory for any Fardh Prayer (not Wajib or Sunnat) and remains an obligation on you, even if you die before you have the chance to pray it. In this case, someone else may pray it on your behalf.

Can Qaza Namaz be Prayed the Next Day?

Normally, the guidelines for Qaza Namaz is to “pray when you remember” your missed prayers. This does not indicate any deadline, or expiry period for when Qaza Namaz should be offered.

With regards to whether Qaza Namaz can be prayed the next day, there are also various hadith which directly mention that if a man sleeps and forgets to pray namaz (e.g. fajr prayer) he may pray it when he remembers (after waking up the next day).

It was narrated that Anas bin Malik said:

‘The Prophet was asked about a man who forgets prayer or sleeps and misses it. He said: ‘he performs it when he remembers it.'”

~ Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 695

There are also recorded and authentic hadith where the Prophet (pbuh) prayed Qaza prayer the next day (due to sleeping during travel).

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that :

When the Messenger of Allah was coming back from the battle of Khaibar, night came and he felt sleepy, so he made camp and said to Bilal: “Keep watch for us tonight.” Bilal prayed as much as Allah decreed for him, and the Messenger of Allah and his Companions went to sleep. When dawn was approaching, Bilal went to his mount, facing towards the east, watching for the dawn. Then Bilal’s eyes grew heavy while he was leaning on his mount (and he slept). Neither Bilal nor any of his Companions woke until they felt the heat of the sun.

The Messenger of Allah was the first one to wake up. The Messenger of Allah was startled and said: “O Bilal!” Bilal said: “The same thing happened to me as happened to you. May my father and mother be ransomed for you, O Messenger of Allah!” He said: “Bring your mounts forward a little.” So they brought their mounts forward a little (away from that place). Then the Messenger of Allah performed ablution and told Bilal to call the Iqamah for prayer, and he led them in the prayer. When the Prophet finished praying, he said: “Whoever forgets a Salah, let him pray it when he remembers, for Allah says: And perform the prayer for My remembrance.”

~ Sunan Ibn Majah 697

However, as mentioned earlier, in the event of your death, your Qaza namaz will still be obligatory on you. It is better for you to pray and fulfill your Qaza prayers as soon as possible (except in conditions where normal prayers are prohibited, such as the three prohibited timings for prayers, or a threat to your security, etc.)

Conclusion

The absence of a strict time limit for Qaza Namaz offers us a path to rectify our missed or forgotten prayers whenever we remember them. It underscores the forgiving nature of our faith, allowing us to make amends and maintain our connection with Allah.

However, it is paramount to remember that while the flexibility of Qaza Namaz allows for delayed prayers, it is a responsibility that should not be taken lightly. One must strive to fulfill their Qaza prayers at the earliest convenience, except when external factors prohibit the performance of regular prayers.