HOW  TO  OBSERVE  A  LAPSED  SALAT

By. Allama Abdul Aziz Bin Abdullah Bin Baz

 Question: Salatuz Zuhar of a person lapsed and he remember it just at the time when Iqamah of Salatul ‘Asar had been called. Should he join congregation with the intent of  Salatul-Asar or with the intent of Salatuz Zuhar or should be first Salat-ul-Zuhar alone and, then Salatul-Asar? Also, what is the meaning of this statement among the distinguished Fuqaha: “When there is the risk of current salat getting lapsed, then, sequencing ceases out? Shall sequencing of Salat cease, if there is a risk of lapse of prayer in congregation?

ANSWER: For the person mentioned in the querry, it is a requirement of Shariah that he joins the congregation with the intent of Salatuz Zuhar. Then, he should observe Salatul Asar alone, because sequencing in is incumbent. So, sequencing does not cease due to risk of lapsing the congregation.

So far as the above mentioned Statement of fuqaha is concerned, it implies that if a person has already lapsed any Salat, then, it is necessary for him to observe it before observing the current Salat. But, he should first observe the current Salat itself, if little time is available for observing it. For example, he has lapsed Salatul-Isha and remembers it just before sun-rise, whereas he has also not observed Salatul Fajr of that day, then, in this case, he should first observe Salatul-Fajir before any lapse of its timings, because these timings are nearest for it. Only after that he should observe Salat-ul-Isha.