HOW TO COMPLETE THE MISSED RAKAT(S) OF SOLATHOW TO COMPLETE THE MISSED RAKAT(S) OF SOLATAlhamdulillah wasolatu wasalam ‘ala rosulillah.This issue is somehow technical, may Allah grant usunderstanding.Basically, we have 3 assumptions on how to complete themissed rakat(s);1. ‘Itimam’ (to complete): meaning that whatever thelatecomer catches up with his imam in a solat is regarded as the beginning ofhis solat and what he prays on his own is the end of his prayer. He started itwith Imam and completes it on his own. The evidence quoted is that the Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): “…..whatever you catch up with,pray, and whatever you have missed, complete it.” (Bukhari and Muslim)2. ‘Qadah’ (to make up): meaning what the latecomer catchesup with his Imam is the latter part of his solat and what he makes up is thefirst part of his solat. The evidence quoted is that the Prophet (peace andblessings of Allaah be upon him), “…..whateveryou catch up with, pray, andwhatever you have missed, make it up.” (Musim)3. ‘Jam’u’ (reconciling the itimam and qadah and acceptingthem all): using both aforementioned assumptions together at the sametime.(This is very common)Starting from the last assumption, the issue of jam’uusually comes up where two accepted hadiths controverts each other. The firstand second hadith seems to controvert each other but they are not. Scholarsdiffer on the meaning of the end part of the second hadith ‘….fa aqiduu’ fromthe word ‘qadah’.Where there is a difference in translation like this in thesharia, the best place to confirm the actual meaning is in the Quran or Hadith.In the Quran, there are 10 different usages of ‘Qadah’ (seeZahru kimam ‘ala qisoti yuusuf ‘alayhi salaam) we have ‘itimam’ (to complete)(or nearest in meaning of ‘to complete’) as one of the meaning and we don’thave “to make it up”. E.g “When you have finished [qudiyat] As-Salaah (thecongregational prayer)” Suratu n Nisa’ 4:103 etcSo, both hadiths have the same meaning which established thefirstassumption. Therefore, only the first assumption (Itimam) is correctbecause it has clear cut evidence.People will still tell you “but according to Malikis orShafi’s….” this statement and the like should not disturb you for thesereasons;1. Maliks said is different from Imam Maliki said.2. “Imam….. Said” what is the evidence of Imam….on thatassumption.3. All our Imams (Imam Hanafi…) warned us not to followtheir words until we know the evidence presented to establish the assumption.(See Sifatu solat …By Imam Albani, Sahih fiqhu Sunnah by Abu Malik)4. There is no aspect of religion that doesn’t haveevidence, this is solat confirm it yourself please!To this end, I am not the first person to make thisclarification, See Imam Albani view on this issue and others. (Ref: Masailu‘ilimiyya wafatawah shar’iyyah limam Muhammad Nasirudeen al Albaniy Fil madinatwal imarat Compiled by ‘Abdu Mun’im Saleem etc).Insha Allah, I will give examples on how to complete themissed rakat(s) of each solat (5 daily solat) starting from Solatul Fajr.SOLATUL FAJRIf you miss the first rakat and join Imam from the secondrakat, that second rakat of Imam is your first rakat. After Tesleem of Imam youwill stand up observes your second rakat as you normally observe second rakahof solatul fajr (Alfatiah + other Surah loudly, ruku’.., sujud.., sitting,tashaud and tesleem).SOLATU ZUHURIf you miss the….FIRST RAKATIt means that you caught up 3 rakats with Imam. The 3 rakatsyou caught up with Imam is therefore your first rakat, second rakat and thirdrakat, remaining only fourth rakat. After Tesleem of Imam you will stand upobserves your fourth rakat as you normallyobserve fourth rakah of solatulZuhur (Alfatiah only, ruku’.., sujud.., sitting, tashaud and tesleem).FIRST AND SECOND RAKATSIt means that you caught up 2 rakats with Imam. The 2 rakatsyou caught up with Imam is therefore your first rakat and second rakatremaining third and fourth rakat. After Tesleem of Imam you will stand upobserves your third rakat as you normally observethird rakah of solatul Zuhur(Alfatiah only, ruku’.., sujud.., and stand up for fourth rakat. You willobserve fourth rakat as you normally observe fourth rakah of solatul Zuhur(Alfatiah only, ruku’.., sujud.., sitting, tashaud and tesleem).FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD RAKATSIt means you caught 1 rakat with Imam. The 1 rakat youcaught up with Imam is therefore your first rakat remaining second, third andfourth rakats. After Tesleem of Imam you will stand up observes your secondrakat as you normally observe second rakah of solatul Zuhur (Alfatiah + othersurah silently, ruku’.., sujud.., sitting, tashaud and stand up for thirdrakat). Observe the third rakat as you normally observe third rakah of solatulZuhur (Alfatiah only, ruku’.., sujud.., and stand up for fourth rakat. You willobserve fourth rakat as you normally observe fourth rakah of solatul Zuhur(Alfatiah only, ruku’.., sujud.., sitting, tashaud and tesleem).SOLATU ‘ASRIf you miss the….FIRST RAKATIt means that you caught up 3 rakats with Imam. The 3 rakatsyou caught up with Imam is therefore your first rakat, second rakat and thirdrakat, remaining only fourth rakat. After Tesleem of Imam you will stand upobserves your fourth rakat as you normallyobserve the fourth rakat of solatul‘Asr (Alfatiah only, ruku’.., sujud.., sitting, tashaud and tesleem).FIRST AND SECOND RAKATSIt means that you caught up 2 rakats with Imam. The 2 rakatsyou caught up with Imam is therefore your first rakat and second rakatremaining third and fourth rakat. After Tesleem of Imam you will stand upobserves your third rakat as you normally observethird rakah of solatul ‘Asr(Alfatiah only, ruku’.., sujud.., and stand up for the fourth rakat. You willobserve fourth rakat as you normally observe forth rakah of solatul ‘Asr(Alfatiah only, ruku’.., sujud.., sitting, tashaud and tesleem).FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD RAKATSIt means you caught 1 rakat with Imam. The 1 rakat youcaught up with Imam is therefore your first rakat remaining second, third andfourth rakats. After Tesleem of Imam you will stand up observes your secondrakat as you normally observe second rakah of solatul ‘Asr (Alfatiah + othersurah silently, ruku’.., sujud.., sitting, tashaud and stand up for the thirdrakat). Observe the third rakat as you normally observe third rakah of solatul‘Asr (Alfatiah only, ruku’.., sujud.., and stand up for the fourth rakat. Youwill observe fourth rakat as you normally observe fourth rakah of solatul ‘Asr(Alfatiah only, ruku’.., sujud.., sitting, tashaud and tesleem).SOLATU MAGRIBIf you miss the….FIRST RAKATIt means that you caught up 2 rakats with Imam. The 2 rakatsyou caught up with Imam is therefore your first rakat and second rakatremaining only third rakat. After Tesleem of Imam you will stand up observesyour third rakat as you normally observe the third rakah of solatul magrib(Alfatiah only & silently, ruku’.., sujud.., sitting, tashaud and tesleem).FIRST AND SECOND RAKATSIt means that you caught up 1 rakat with Imam. The 1 rakatyou caught up with Imam is therefore your first rakat remaining second andthird rakat. After Tesleem of Imam you will stand up, observes your secondrakat as you normally observe second rakat of solatul ‘Magrib (Alfatiah + Surahloudly, ruku’.., sujud.., sitting, tashaud and stand up for the third rakat.You will observethird rakat as you normally observe third rakat of solatulMagrib (Alfatiah only & silently, ruku’.., sujud.., sitting, tashaud andtesleem).SOLATU ‘ISHAIIf you miss the….FIRST RAKATIt means that you caught up 3 rakats with Imam. The 3 rakatsyou caught up with Imam is therefore your first rakat, second rakat and thirdrakat, remaining only fourth rakat. After Tesleem of Imam you will stand upobserves your fourth rakat as you normallyobserve the fourth rakah of solatul‘Ishai (Alfatiah only & silently, ruku’.., sujud.., sitting, tashaud andtesleem).FIRST AND SECOND RAKATSIt means that you caught up 2 rakats with Imam. The 2 rakatsyou caught up with Imam is therefore your first rakat and second rakatremaining third and fourth rakat. After Tesleem of Imam you will stand upobserves your third rakat as you normally observethird ra