The majority said that he must make it up. Some said that he is not to make it up, and that performing it after its appointed time is invalid, as with Hajj.

It is established that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said concerning rulers who delay the prayer beyond its appointed time:

“Offer the prayer at its appointed time, and make your prayer with them a voluntary prayer.”

The Quran, the Sunnah, and the agreement of the early generations establish a distinction between someone who neglects the prayer and offers it after its appointed time and someone who abandons it. If prayer offered after its time were invalid under all circumstances, both would be the same. However, the person who neglected its appointed time was committed to fulfilling its obligation; he merely neglected one of its requirements—its timing—while performing the act itself.

As for someone who, out of ignorance and misguidance, did not know that it was obligatory upon him, or knew of the obligation but did not commit himself to it: if such a person is an unbeliever, then he is an apostate, and the previously mentioned disagreement applies to whether he must make it up. Yet this resembles the unbelief of hypocrisy. The discussion of this case is therefore connected to that of someone who performs the prayer and pays zakat out of hypocrisy or to be seen by others. This outwardly discharges his obligation, but inwardly it is not accepted from him.

Allah Most High says:

“That is because they hated what Allah revealed, so He rendered their deeds worthless.”

And He says:

“Nothing has prevented their contributions from being accepted except that they have disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger, and they do not come to