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Fatwa CenterHow to make up for the missed 'Asr (afternoon) prayer?
Question
My question is regarding making up a missed Asr prayer. My husband, me and pre-teen boys were at a public function (the Qatar National Day function) on Monday. It was supposed to start at 3 and finish by 4, with prayer and toilet facilities arranged etc. However, when we reached the venue, we realized how crowded it all was and we couldn't move from our seats to pray. We couldn't pray in our seats, even if we had Wudhu, as the Qibla was in the opposite direction. By the time the function got over, the crowds were too much, walking to return home and no space to pray. Makeshift toilets had run out of water as well, so we walked to the nearest place that we could think of but by the time we reached the venue to make Wudhu and pray, the Maghrib Adhan gave out. So we lost the chance to pray Asr on time, and ended up praying Asr after Maghrib Fard and Sunnah prayers (as per my husband's view). Is this wrong? Did we commit a major sin, because it wasn't deliberate and we just couldn't end up doing it on time? We usually are very particular about our prayers...Kindly advise. My questions are: 1. In case this happens again (Allah forbid), what is to be done in such a case? 2. How to pray and/or make up the lost prayer? 3. How to atone for the sin? 4. Also, is it permissible to make Tayammum by rubbing on grassy ground? Please clarify and ease our indeliberate action of missing this important daily prayer. Jazakumullahu Khairan Katheeran
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
You have undoubtedly committed a mistake by not observing Al-ʿAsr prayer until its due time was over. You were rather supposed to observe it before the passage of its due time, taking into account that you would not be required to fulfill those conditions and pillars, including ablution and standing, as long as you were unable to fulfill them. However, we firmly believe that it is inconceivable that you could not observe the prayer while standing and facing the Qiblah, even if you were next to the chairs. Anyway, you have now to repent to Allah, the Almighty, by showing remorse for this violation and showing the strong determination that you would not repeat such a mistake in the future.
In case the due time of Al-ʿAsr prayer is over and the time of Al-Maghrib prayer is due, the person, who missed Al-ʿAsr prayer, observes Al-ʿAsr prayer first after which he shall observe Al-Maghrib prayer so that he would maintain arrangement among the obligatory prayers.
However, if the person acts otherwise and observes Al-Maghrib prayer before Al-ʿAsr prayer, we hope his prayer would be valid since a group of scholars are of the opinion that arrangement of prayers is recommended, which is actually the opinion we choose when issuing fatwas.
Allah knows best.
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