THE PILLARS OF ISLAM - Mouassa Islamic association

7. It is not essential for the one performing prayer to intend
al-Adâ‟ (i.e. performing it in its prescribed time) or
al-Qadâ‟ (i.e. performing it after its assigned time passes
out). In other words if he missed the Zuhr prayer and
performed it later, he does not have to intend it as Qadâ‟
(i.e. a prayer that is being performed after its assigned time
has passed), because if he intended to perform the prayer
as Adâ‟ (i.e. a prayer that is being performed in its
assigned time) after its time has passed, his prayer
becomes nullified; likewise, if he intended to perform it as
Qadâ‟ and performed it during its prescribed time his
prayer becomes nullified.
8. It is not required to specify the number of Rak„ahs,
because if one intends to perform the Maghrib prayer
(which consists of three Rak„ahs) and says by mistake: (I
intend to perform the sunset prayer four Rak„ahs), his
prayer becomes nullified.
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