Question 184) - Does the Wajib nature of sequence drop under any circumstances?

A: Yes, it does in any of the following circumstances:

1. When the number of missed Shah reaches 6 excluding Witr. (Ad-Durr al-Mukhtar (488/1) states sequence is not necessary when time i! short or when the missed Salah is forgotten. These are excuses. When they reach six according to belief they will be difficult to fulfil in sequence.

Ibn 'Abidin said in his Hashiyah that "according to belief" to exclude tha which is Fard in practice, i.e. Witr. Even though sequence is Wajib between Witr and the others which are Fard, Witr will not be added to the missed one in this instance because Witr is a completion of the deeds of the day and night. The numbers increase through the increase of times, and Witr does no have an independent time of its own.

2. Forgetting a missed Salah.

3. When running out of time.

When the missed Salah reaches 6, he may pray first whichever one he wishes to. He may pray the Salah which is "on time" even if he remembers that he has missed Salah.

When he forgets that he has a missed Salah and prays a Salah in its correct time that Salah is valid and need not be repeated.

If he awakens just before sunrise and he remembers that he ha missed 'Isha or Witr, he should pray Fajr then and the 'Isha and Wit after the sun has sufficiently risen. He need not repeat Fajr, because sequence was dropped due to lack of time.

~ al-Quduri ~