he missed them due to an excuse. This may perhaps be indicated by the wording, “Whoever misses any of them,” because missing something means that it has passed one by and cannot be caught. The author did not say, “Whoever does not pray them should make them up”; rather, he said, “Whoever misses them.” Similarly, they say, “Whoever misses standing at ‘Arafah has missed the Hajj.”

Night prayer is better than prayer during the day, …

His statement, “Night prayer is better than prayer during the day”: Know that voluntary prayer is of two types: unrestricted and restricted.

As for restricted voluntary prayer, it is best at the time to which it is restricted, or in the circumstance to which it is restricted.

For example, the prayer upon entering the mosque: if you enter it, even during the daytime, it is better than night prayer, because it is restricted to a particular circumstance—namely, entering the mosque. Likewise, the sunnah prayer after ablution—when you perform ablution, it is recommended for you to pray two rak‘ahs—is better than night prayer even if it is performed during the daytime, because it is restricted to a particular cause.

As for unrestricted voluntary prayer, it is better at night than during the day, because of the Prophet’s ﷺ saying: “The best prayer after the obligatory prayer is the night prayer.” (1) Night begins at sunset. Thus, for example, prayer between Maghrib and ‘Isha’ is better than prayer between Zuhr and ‘Asr, because it is night prayer and is therefore superior.

One is recommended to perform abundant unrestricted voluntary prayer at all times, because the Prophet ﷺ said to the man who said, “I ask for your companionship in Paradise,” “Or is there anything else?” He said, “That is it.”