Do I Need to Make up a Voluntary Prayer That I Have Invalidated?

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: Assalam ‘aleykum

Do I have to make up a voluntary prayer after losing my wudu while trying to perform it the first time? Can I delay it?

Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,

Yes, if you invalidate a voluntary prayer, it needs to be made up. [Ibn `Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]

This is because you made it binding upon yourself to pray a complete prayer by beginning it, and because Allah Most High said “Do not let your deeds go to waste.” [47.33]

But this prayer does not need to be made up immediately, even though that would be superior.

Please also see: A Reader on Waswasa (Baseless Misgivings)

And Allah knows best.

في ردّ المحتار لابن عابدين: (قوله ولزم نفل إلخ) أي لزم المضي فيه، حتى إذا أفسده لزم قضاؤه أي قضاء ركعتين، وإن نوى أكثر على ما يأتي اه

wassalam,
Tabraze Azam

Checked & Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani