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Fatwa CenterMaking up for prayers missed due to ignorance of purity
Question
For a year or more, I used to have no knowledge of ghusl, and never performed it at the end of my menses. I prayed normally, unaware that prayers are invalid if you're impure.I'm worried that i might have to make up for those prayers, due to the absence of taharah.Were my prayers invalid, or was i excused for my lack of knowledge?
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.
Your prayers that were performed without ritual purification after menstruation are invalid, as stated in the authentic hadith. Ibn ‘Umar (
) reported the Messenger of Allah (allallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) as saying, “Prayer without purification is not accepted...” However, making up for these prayers after learning about the Islamic ruling, is a matter of scholarly disagreement. Scholars differ on whether someone who omits a condition of prayer due to ignorance of its ruling is obligated to repeat past prayers or not.
Some of the scholars said that it is not obligatory to make up the prayers, as was the opinion of Sheikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (
).
Whereas some of them say that it is obligatory to make up the missed prayers, and this opinion is of the majority of scholars.
Al-Ruḥaybani Al-Ḥanbali said in Mataleb Uli Al-Nuha: "The conditions [of the prayer] are not waived, [regardless of if they were omitted] intentionally, unintentionally, or out of ignorance".
Similarly, in Hashiyat Al-Shabramallisi on Nihayat Al-Muhtaj li’l-Ramli Al-Shafi'i, it states: "...because conditions are not waived due to ignorance or forgetfulness".
This is the view we prefer, and it is undoubtedly the most cautious.
Furthermore, the matter (i.e. making up missed prayers) is easy. Thus, if you want to clear your conscience and be cautious about your religion, then make up as much as is easy for you.
Imam Malik said in Al-Mudawwanah: "Whoever forgets many prayers or has left many prayers, let him pray according to his ability. And let him attend to his needs, and when he finishes his needs, let him again pray what still remains upon him until he completes all that he forgot or left. He should perform the iqamah for each prayer, praying the daytime prayers at night silently, whilst praying the nighttime prayers during the day. He should recite in the nighttime prayers aloud during the day.” [End of quote]
If you can pray five days, then do so. For whoever prays five days each day is not negligent. Even making up two days' worth of prayers is sufficient for someone who is busy. If you are unable to do so, then pray one day.
In the Hashiya of Al-Adawi: Abu Muhammad Salih said: “If he makes up prayers of two days each day, he will not be considered negligent. But if he makes up only five prayers a day, that is not considered sufficient, unless he is incapable of doing more than that...” [End of quote]
Allah Knows best.
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