---
title: "Qada Prayer — How to Make Up Missed Prayers"
description: "How to make up missed Qada prayers — fard only, no expiry, four-school order rules. Skip this page for today’s clock or how to pray from scratch."
url: https://globalprayertimes.org/qada-prayer/
canonical: https://globalprayertimes.org/qada-prayer/
updated: 2026-08-13
publisher: Global Prayer Times (Elite Digital AI Solutions Ltd)
licence: Free to quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL
---

> Source: https://globalprayertimes.org/qada-prayer/ — updated 2026-08-13. Generated at build time from the same content the HTML page serves. Prayer start times are calculated; confirm congregation (iqamah) times with the mosque.

🙏 Prayer Guide

# Qada Prayer — Making Up Missed Prayers

Quick Answer
Qada is making up an obligatory prayer that was missed — through sleep, forgetfulness or neglect —
in the same form as the original fard, with no expiry date. Skip this page for today’s Maghrib
(open a city URL) or for how to pray the five prayers from scratch.

Who this is not for

Not a fatwa on whether years of missed prayers are forgiven without Qada. Deliberate neglect is a
major sin requiring tawbah plus makeup. Follow a qualified scholar for your school if the count is
uncertain.

Desk-reviewed 2026-08-13.

## Should you use this page or the Salah how-to?

Use this URL for missed fard, tartib (order) by school, and estimating years of makeup (Umr Qada).
The motions of a prayer you have never learned live on
[how to pray Salah](https://globalprayertimes.org/how-to-pray-salah/) .
Hanafi Witr makeup is noted here; the Witr method itself is
[Witr prayer](https://globalprayertimes.org/witr-prayer/) .

📿 "Whoever forgets a prayer, let him pray it when he remembers"

The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever forgets a prayer or sleeps through it, let him pray it when he remembers — for there is no expiation for it except that." (Sahih al-Bukhari 597, Sahih Muslim 684). There is always a way back.

## Which Prayers Require Qada?

✅ Must be made up (Qada is Fard)

- • Fajr (2 Fard rakats)
- • Dhuhr (4 Fard rakats)
- • Asr (4 Fard rakats)
- • Maghrib (3 Fard rakats)
- • Isha (4 Fard rakats)
- • Witr — if Wajib (Hanafi school)

⚪ Generally do not require Qada

- • Sunnah prayers (with one exception)
- • 2 Sunnah of Fajr — may be made up until Dhuhr
- • Nafl (voluntary) prayers
- • Eid prayers (Hanafi — can be made up; other schools: no)
- • Tarawih prayers

## How do you pray Qada, step by step?

1

### Estimate your missed prayers

Try to estimate how many prayers of each type you have missed. Round up generously — it is better to make up more than owed than less. Keep a count if possible.

2

### Make the correct intention (Niyyah)

In your heart, intend: 'I am praying Qada [name of prayer — e.g. Fajr/Dhuhr/etc.] for the sake of Allah.' You do not need to specify the exact date. Some scholars say you should specify 'the first missed [Fajr]' or 'the last missed [Fajr]' if doing them in order.

3

### Pray only the Fard rakats

Qada is made up by praying the Fard (obligatory) rakats only — you do not need to add Sunnah rakats for missed prayers (though you may pray voluntary prayers alongside). Fajr Qada: 2 rakats. Dhuhr Qada: 4 rakats. Asr Qada: 4 rakats. Maghrib Qada: 3 rakats. Isha Qada: 4 rakats.

4

### Maintain consistency

The most sustainable approach: pray 1–2 extra Qada prayers per day alongside your 5 current prayers. Scholars recommend making it a daily habit rather than trying to pray all missed prayers at once.

5

### Make sincere Tawbah

Alongside Qada, make sincere repentance (Tawbah) for the missed prayers — especially those missed deliberately. Tawbah requires: feeling genuine remorse, stopping the sin, and firmly intending not to repeat it.

## Must missed prayers be made up in order?

🟢 Hanafi

Tartib (order) is obligatory for fewer than 6 missed prayers. With many missed prayers (Umr Qada), order is not obligatory. Missed prayers should be made up before the current prayer if there is enough time.

🔵 Shafi'i

Order is recommended but not obligatory. Always pray the current prayer in its time first. Make up missed prayers after current obligations.

🟡 Maliki

Order is recommended. If time for the current prayer is short, pray it first. If there is ample time and only a few missed prayers, make them up first.

🟠 Hanbali

Order is recommended (not obligatory). Always prioritise praying the current prayer in its time. Make up missed prayers in any order.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is Qada prayer in Islam?

Qada (قضاء) means 'making up' a prayer that was missed after its prescribed time has passed. Every obligatory prayer (Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha) must be made up as soon as possible when missed. The Prophet ﷺ said: 'Whoever forgets a prayer or sleeps through it, let him pray it when he remembers — for there is no expiation for it except that.' (Sahih al-Bukhari 597). Missing prayers through forgetfulness or sleep is forgiven; missing deliberately without excuse is a major sin requiring Tawbah and immediate Qada.

### How do you pray Qada (missed prayers)?

Qada prayers are prayed exactly the same as the regular prayer — same number of Fard rakats, same movements. Make the intention: 'I am praying the Qada (missed Fajr/Dhuhr/Asr/Maghrib/Isha) for the sake of Allah.' There is no need to mention the date or how long ago it was missed. Sunnah prayers do not need to be made up (with the exception of the 2 Sunnah of Fajr — which may be made up until Dhuhr time, according to some scholars).

### Must you make up prayers in order?

According to the Hanafi school: yes, you must make up missed prayers in chronological order (Tartib). If you have multiple missed prayers, pray them in the order they were missed. However, if you have so many missed prayers that you cannot remember the order, or if the number is very large ('Umr Qada), you may pray without a specific order. Shafi'i and Maliki schools: chronological order is recommended but not obligatory.

### Can you pray current prayers before making up missed ones?

In the Hanafi school: if you have a small number of missed prayers (fewer than 6), you should make up the missed ones before praying the current prayer (if there is enough time before the current prayer's time runs out). If making up the missed prayers would cause you to miss the current prayer's time, you pray the current prayer first, then make up the missed ones. Shafi'i and Hanbali: always pray the current prayer in its time, then make up the missed ones.

### How long do I have to make up missed prayers?

There is no expiry date for Qada prayers. Missed obligatory prayers must be made up at any time, even if they are many years old. The obligation does not diminish with time. The Prophet ﷺ himself led a group in making up prayers missed during the Battle of the Trench (Sahih al-Bukhari 596). Make up missed prayers as quickly as possible — even one per day if owed many — while maintaining current obligations.

### What about prayers missed over many years (Umr Qada)?

'Umr Qada' (lifetime of missed prayers) refers to the case of someone who has missed many years of prayers and needs to make them all up. Scholars encourage estimating the number as best as possible and making a consistent effort to make up at least one extra prayer per day alongside current prayers. You do not need to be exact — estimate generously (round up) and begin. The intention to make up lifetime missed prayers is what matters.

[🙏 How to Pray Salah](https://globalprayertimes.org/how-to-pray-salah/) [🔢 How Many Rakats?](https://globalprayertimes.org/how-many-rakats/) [❓ Islamic Q&A](https://globalprayertimes.org/islamic-qa/) [🌙 Witr Prayer](https://globalprayertimes.org/witr-prayer/)

## Related Islamic Guides

[🙏 How to Pray Salah Fard skeleton, rakats and what to recite — use this if you never learned the motions.](https://globalprayertimes.org/how-to-pray-salah/) [🔢 How Many Rakats? Fard counts for the five prayers plus Witr.](https://globalprayertimes.org/how-many-rakats/) [🌙 Witr Prayer Hanafi treats missed Witr as wajib Qada; other schools differ.](https://globalprayertimes.org/witr-prayer/) [💧 What Breaks Wudu Confirm you still have wudu before a makeup prayer.](https://globalprayertimes.org/what-breaks-wudu/)

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— Global Prayer Times. Cite as: Qada Prayer — How to Make Up Missed Prayers, Global Prayer Times, https://globalprayertimes.org/qada-prayer/