When a woman becomes pure from menses or post partum bleeding after the time of ‘Asr started, does she have to perform Thuhr and then ‘Asr, or should she perform ‘Asr prayer only, and how is she going to make up for other prayers, i.e. when she becomes pure after Fajr, or after Thuhr, or after Maghrib or after ‘Ishaa’?

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 is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

If a woman becomes pure from menses or post partum bleeding after the time of ‘Asr started, then according to the majority of scholars she is obliged to perform Thuhr and ‘Asr prayers. Ibn Qudaamah said: 'This view is reported from ‘Abdur-Rahmaan Ibn ‘Awf, Ibn ‘Abbaas, Taawoos, Mujaahid, An-Nukha’i, Az-Zuhri, Rabee’ah, Maalik, Al-Layth, Ash-Shaafi’ee, Is-Haaq and Abu Thawr.'

Imaam Ahmad said: 'Most of the generation who came after the companions are of this view with the exception of Al-Hassan, may Allaah be have mercy on him, who said that “a woman is only obliged to perform the prayer, during the time of which she became pure, and this is the view of Ath-Thawri, and other scholars.'

Al-Athram and Ibn Al-Munthir and others reported that 'Abdur-Rahmaan Ibn ‘Awf, and 'Abdullaah Ibn ‘Abbaas stated that if a woman becomes pure from menses by a time during which one could perform one Rak’ah before Fajr, she is obliged to perform the Maghrib and the ‘Ishaa’ prayers as well. If she becomes pure before sunset, she should perform Thuhr and ‘Asr prayers, but if she becomes pure after Maghrib, then she is only obliged to perform Maghrib prayer. The same thing applies to her if she becomes pure after Fajr, that is to say that she is only obliged to perform Fajr payer, but if she becomes pure after sunrise, then she is not obliged to perform Fajr prayer as its time expired when she was still in the state of impurity.

Allaah Knows best.