A question was asked about performing four units [rak‘at] of prayer on Jumu‘at-ul-Wida‘, referring to it as qaza-e-‘umri, intended to compensate for missed prayers. It was asked whether there was any evidence for this practice.
The Promised Messiahas responded:
“It is a futile act. However, once a person was observed praying at an irregular time. When someone suggested to Hazrat Alira, who was the Khalifa at the time, to prohibit him, he replied, ‘I am afraid of being culpable under the following verse[s]:
اَرَءَیۡتَ الَّذِیۡ یَنۡہٰی عَبۡدًا اِذَا صَلّٰی
“‘[‘Hast thou seen him who forbids a servant (of Ours) when he prays?’ (Surah al-‘Alaq, Ch.96: V.10-11)]’
“Yes, if someone deliberately omits their prayers with the intention of compensating them later during qaza-e-‘umri, their action is improper. However, if one performs such prayers out of regret to make amends, then let them be. Why forbid them when they are merely supplicating? Indeed, there is a lack of resolve in this, but beware, lest in prohibiting you also fall under those verse[s].”
(Al Hakam, 24 April 1903, p. 12)
