Qada

What Does Qada Mean in Detail?

Qada is distinguished from ada (performing an act within its prescribed time). When a religious obligation is missed — whether due to valid excuses like illness, travel, menstruation, or forgetfulness — the Muslim is required to make it up as qada at the earliest opportunity. For نماز (salah), qada means performing the missed نماز with the same number of rakaat. For fasting (sawm), days missed during Ramadan must be made up before the next Ramadan. In the context of حج, if a حاجی's حج is invalidated (such as through sexual relations before عرفات), they must perform qada حج the following year. Some rites within حج that are missed may also require qada alongside a penalty (dam or fidyah). The Hanafi school particularly emphasizes the obligation of qada for missed نمازs, even those missed without a valid excuse.