My son performed the Maghrib prayer in congregation with me and then told me that he had not performed the ‘Asr prayer. It is well known that observing the proper sequence is important when making up for a missed prayer. I told him to perform the ‘Asr prayer afterwards and that he should observe order when making up for missed prayers in the future. What is your opinion concerning this?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and messenger.

Observing the proper sequence between missed and current prayers is due when making up for them but this is not a condition for the validity of the prayer. This is the case when the missed prayers are few in number (i.e. less than four prayers). However, if the number was more than four prayers, then one should perform the current prayer first and the missed ones afterwards. If the number of missed prayers were more than four prayers, one should make up for them first before performing the current prayer even if its’ due time elapses. This is according to the Maaliki school of Fiqh.

Hence, the Maghrib prayer that your son performed is valid, Allaah Willing, because he might have just forgotten to perform ‘Asr, was unaware of the religious ruling on delaying it or may have actually performed it and forgot. Also, observing the proper sequence between missed and current prayers is not a condition for the validity of prayer. However, it is recommended for him to perform this Maghrib prayer again as long as there is enough time for it.

Shaafi‘i scholars believed that observing the proper sequence between missed prayers or between the missed and current one is not obligatory, but only recommended.

Perhaps the reason behind this difference of opinion among the scholars is due to the narration that was reported by Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullaah and others that "‘Umar went to the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, on the day of Al-Khandaq (i.e. the Battle of the trench) after the sun had set cursing the Quraysh and said, "O Messenger of Allaah, I could not offer the ‘Asr prayer till the sun had set." The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "By Allaah! I, too, have not prayed." So we turned towards But-han, a valley in Al-Madeenah, and the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, performed ablution and we too performed it and offered the ‘Asr prayer after the sun had set and then he offered the Maghrib prayer." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Ibn Daqeeq said in his book, Ihkaam Al-Ahkaam, "If the evidence that indicates the fact that the time frame of the Maghrib prayer extends until the disappearance of the red twilight in the sky is added to the previously cited Hadeeth, this will indicate that this Hadeeth is not evidence for the obligation to observe proper sequence in making up for missed prayers. This is because the action itself does not indicate the obligation according to the chosen opinion of the scholars of Usool Al-Fiqh. Moreover, if this Hadeeth is added to the evidence indicating the shortness of the time frame of the Maghrib prayer, it will indicate the obligation of performing the missed prayer before the current one if there was not enough time. If it is not obligatory (to perform the missed prayer first), the current prayer will not be missed while praying what is not obligatory. The conclusion of this Hadeeth with regards to the ruling on observing the proper sequence when making up for missed prayers is based on weighing the two pieces of evidence concerning the time frame of the Maghrib prayer or the opinion that actions are considered an indication of the obligation."

Therefore, the prayer of your son is valid, Allaah Willing.