To What Extent Can I Restrict the Sunnah Acts in Make-Up Prayers? [Shafi’i]
Shafi'i Fiqh
Answered by Shaykh Shuaib Ally
Question: Assalam alaikum,
I have discovered that you can’t wipe over socks that allowed water to seep through. Now I have to make up almost a decade worth of prayer. Is there a minimum requirement (with regard to Sunna actions)in performing a make up prayer?
Answer: Assalāmu ʿalaykum,
I pray that you are well.
There is no minimum requirement for Sunnah acts for making up prayers. That is, the Sunnah acts in them are recommended in the same way as they are for an obligatory prayer performed in its time.
However, Sunnah acts themselves do not affect the validity of the prayer, and prayers can be validly performed without them.
If one has a number of prayers to make up, they can lessen the Sunnah aspects of the prayer – such as shortening some of the Sunnah supplications in number and kind, or reciting only the Fatiha – if that will facilitate for them the completion of the obligation.
God facilitates all affairs.
wassalam,
Shuaib Ally
