Making up missed prayers

25-5-2002 | IslamWeb

Question:

If someone is unconscious or disturbed by Jinn and missed many prayers should he make them up later?

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Answer:

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the World; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.

According to al-Malikiyah, al-Shafi'eyah and one of Hanabila's point of view, an unconscious person is required only to make up a prayer if he becomes conscious during any part of its fixed time.
Abu Hanifa supports the above-stated opinion in case of missing more than five prescribed prayers. But, if such a person missed five prayers and less, then he should make up all the missed prayers. We think that this last opinion constitutes the middle solution between the first opinion and that of Hambali School which obligates making up for all the prayers that the unconscious person missed.
As for being disturbed by Jinn, if one's mind is befogged one's consciousness is lost; in such a case, the ruling stated above concerning the unconscious one is applied. But, if one is afflicted with a state of semi-madness during which one is still conscious and mindful, then (1) one is allowed to delay a prayer even to its last time and to be performed alone if one believes that such a state will not last and make one lose the prayer, and (2) if one believes that such a state will not come to an end, then one has to perform the prayer in one's existing state.
Allah Says (interpretation of meaning): {So keep your duty to Allah and fear Him as much as you can; …} [64:16]. He also Says: {Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope. …} [2:286].
Allah knows best.