Title: Neglecting Salaat Question: I hope you are in the best of Iman , health and happiness. Please explain what someone in my position would be advised to do by the most knowledgeable scholars etc. in Islam. (detailed explanation please) I cannot stress how much I wish I had not neglected my Salaat. I am still in my teens and still cannot dismiss my shame at missing Salaat. I am currently calculating and trying my best to read Qada namz for the all the Salaat I have missed since puberty i.e. 12 years of age. Firstly, would this not be accepted as I should have read the Fard and Wirtrh then, at that moment? However, someone told me I shouldn't burden myself and as a new revert would be advised, to just pray the fard etc, with sunnah and nafl. Also, if I am pressured I will read the Sallat really fast at times so that won't be accepted (confirm this: reading salaat quickly is it not accepted?) I am totally confused what to do. Also, would reading Qada namaz instead of sunnah and nafl be a grave mistake? Sometimes when I am tired or cannot concentrate I read only the Fard and Withr...I am unsure if I am acting wrongfully by not reading all of the namaz or acting justly... offering the compulsory salaat to the highest standard I possible I can. When a person repents, he is as clean as a newborn ...but how do we know if we are that clean and don't have to make up for missed salaat? Thank you so much for your time and patience. Wassalam Inayah United Kingdom Answer: I would agree with the advice that you have already been given. You should concentrate on your current prayers, repent for having missed any in the past and also for any shortcomings in your prayers. However, it is indeed advisable that you continue to offer naf'l prayers, which would insha'Allah make up for any prayers that you may have missed in the past. It is not that offering one's prayers very fast is not accepted. On the contrary, it is against the spirit of offering Sala'h to offer it overly fast. We must remember that Sala'h is indicative of our presence in the court of Allah. It is a time of great veneration and a time to cherish. Our heart, mind and soul should bow in front of God. We should therefore, try our best to offer Sala'h in a manner that is most suitable focusing our mind on the fact that we are truly standing, sitting and bowing in the presence of God. The only obligatory part of Sala'h is what we call "Fard" . All other parts of Sala'h , including Witr are, in fact, supererogatory (i.e., naf'l ). Therefore, missing any rak`ahs other than the Fard rak`ahs is not a sin. If our repentance is sincere, then it is God's promise through his messenger that He would complete cleanse us of all our sins, including having missed any prayers. Why should we doubt this promise of the Merciful? I hope this helps. Moiz Amjad June 1, 2003