Q: I am a young Muslim man. I started praying when I was eighteen. Should I make up for the previously missed Salahs (prayers)? If yes, how many years shall I make up for?

A: You should supplicate to Allah for His forgiveness and repent to Him of what has passed, and you do not have to make up for missed prayers, because abandoning Salah is an act of Kufr (Disbelief) as the Prophetﷺ said: That which differentiates us from them (the disbelievers and hypocrites) is Salah. Thus, whoever abandons it, becomes a disbeliever. There are many other Hadiths with this context. However, the expiation of Kufr is to repent to Allah (May He be Praised), and to do your utmost to offer righteous deeds as Allah (May He be Praised) says: And verily, I am indeed forgiving to him who repents, believes (in My Oneness, and associates none in worship with Me) and does righteous good deeds, and then remains constant in doing them, (till his death).

May Allah grant us success! May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and companions!

Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta'