Rare Prayers
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 1|Book 1|Chapter 88
وَ رَوَى عَبْدُ اَللَّهِ بْنُ سِنَانٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لَهُ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ رَجُلٍ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ صَلاَةِ اَلنَّوَافِلِ مَا لاَ يَدْرِي مَا هُوَ مِنْ كَثْرَتِهَا كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ قَالَ «فَلْيُصَلِّ حَتَّى لاَ يَدْرِيَ كَمْ صَلَّى مِنْ كَثْرَتِهَا فَيَكُونَ قَدْ قَضَى بِقَدْرِ مَا عَلِمَهُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ، » ثُمَّ قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ فَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَقْدِرُ عَلَى اَلْقَضَاءِ فَقَالَ «إِنْ كَانَ شُغُلُهُ فِي طَلَبِ مَعِيشَةٍ لاَ بُدَّ مِنْهَا أَوْ حَاجَةٍ لِأَخٍ مُؤْمِنٍ فَلاَ شَيْءَ عَلَيْهِ وَ إِنْ كَانَ شُغُلُهُ لِجَمْعِ اَلدُّنْيَا وَ اَلتَّشَاغُلِ بِهَا عَنِ اَلصَّلاَةِ فَعَلَيْهِ اَلْقَضَاءُ وَ إِلاَّ لَقِيَ اَللَّهَ وَ هُوَ مُسْتَخِفٌّ مُتَهَاوِنٌ مُضَيِّعٌ لِحُرْمَةِ رَسُولِ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ » قُلْتُ فَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَقْدِرُ عَلَى اَلْقَضَاءِ فَهَلْ يُجْزِي أَنْ يَتَصَدَّقَ فَسَكَتَ مَلِيّاً ثُمَّ قَالَ «فَلْيَتَصَدَّقْ بِصَدَقَةٍ» قُلْتُ فَمَا يَتَصَدَّقُ قَالَ «بِقَدْرِ طَوْلِهِ وَ أَدْنَى ذَلِكَ مُدٌّ لِكُلِّ مِسْكِينٍ مَكَانَ كُلِّ صَلاَةٍ» قُلْتُ وَ كَمِ اَلصَّلاَةُ اَلَّتِي يَجِبُ فِيهَا مُدٌّ لِكُلِّ مِسْكِينٍ قَالَ «لِكُلِّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ مِنْ صَلاَةِ اَللَّيْلِ مُدٌّ وَ لِكُلِّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ مِنْ صَلاَةِ اَلنَّهَارِ مُدٌّ» فَقُلْتُ لاَ يَقْدِرُ فَقَالَ «مُدٌّ إِذاً لِكُلِّ أَرْبَعِ رَكَعَاتٍ مِنْ صَلاَةِ اَلنَّهَارِ» قُلْتُ لاَ يَقْدِرُ قَالَ «فَمُدٌّ إِذاً لِصَلاَةِ اَللَّيْلِ وَ مُدٌّ لِصَلاَةِ اَلنَّهَارِ وَ اَلصَّلاَةُ أَفْضَلُ وَ اَلصَّلاَةُ أَفْضَلُ وَ اَلصَّلاَةُ أَفْضَلُ.
Abdullah ibn Sinan narrated from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: I asked him about a person who has so many missed (Qadha) prayers that he cannot count them, what should he do? Imam عليه السلام said: "Let him pray until he no longer knows how many he has prayed due to their abundance, and he would have compensated for the amount he is aware of." I then asked: "What if he cannot complete all the Qadha prayers?" Imam عليه السلام said: "If his preoccupation is due to seeking a necessary livelihood or helping a fellow believer in need, there is no obligation on him. But if his preoccupation is for gathering worldly gain and being distracted from prayer, then he must make up for them; otherwise, he will meet Allah سبحانه وتعالى while being negligent, belittling, and neglecting the sanctity of Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم." I asked: "What if he still cannot make up for them? Is charity sufficient?" The Imam remained silent for a while and then said: "Let him give charity." I asked: "How much charity?" Imam عليه السلام said: "As much as he can afford, with the minimum being a 'mud' (a specific measure) of food for each missed prayer." I asked: "How many prayers require a 'mud' of charity?" Imam عليه السلام said: "A 'mud' for every two units (rak'ahs) of the night prayer and a 'mud' for every two units of the day prayer." I said: "What if he cannot do this?" Imam عليه السلام said: "Then one 'mud' for every four units of the day prayer." I said: "What if he cannot manage even this?" Imam عليه السلام said: "Then one 'mud' for the entire night prayer and one 'mud' for the entire day prayer. However, prayer is superior, and prayer is superior, and prayer is superior."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh