Can I Leave the Emphasized Sunna Prayers In Order To Pray a Make-Up Prayer?
Question: Can I leave the emphasized sunna prayers in order to pray a make-up prayer? Does this ruling also apply to Tarawih prayers? What is the proper intention for performing a make-up prayer?
Answer:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate,
Combining Intentions
It is permissible to combine the intentions of make-up prayers and voluntary prayers. [Hamawi, Ibn Nujaym; Ghamz ‘Uyun al-Basair Sharh al-Ashbah wa al-Nazair]
However, this does not apply to the combined intentions of a make-up prayer and an emphasized sunna prayer. [Ibid.]
The Tarawih prayer is amongst the emphasized Sunna prayers. [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]
Intention for Make-up Prayers
When making up a prayer you must intend the specific prayer. Seeing as this may be difficult if there are multiple prayers or if one does not recall the exact date of the prayer – apply the following method:
Intend, for example, the most recent Dhuhr prayer you owe. This specification is sufficient for all your make-up prayer. Note that stating the intention is not required. Merely intending in your heart is sufficient. [Tahtawi/Shurunbulali, Hashiyat Maraqi al-Falah]
Balancing Between Make-Up Prayers and the Emphasized Sunna Prayers
Strive to schedule a certain amount of make-up prayers that you can handle each day without leaving the emphasized sunna prayers.
Please also see:
https://seekers.flywheelstaging.com/answers/hanafi-fiqh/the-status-of-confirmed-sunna-prayers/
I hope this helps,
Allah knows best.
Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Yusuf Weltch is a graduate from Tarim; a student of Habib Umar and other luminaries; and authorized teachers of the Qur’an and the Islamic sciences
