Salat-ul-Qada'' Al-`Umry

Q: In Pakistan there is a town whose residents after the last Friday in Ramadan and directly after Jumu`ah (Friday) Prayer, call Adhan (Call to Prayer) and perform five prayers consisting of four Rak`ahs and a separate taslim (salutation of peace ending the Prayer). They consider these prayers compensation for the ones they missed in earlier times. This happens once a year in the last Friday of Ramadan. I hope you can explain to us whether this kind of prayer is sound in terms of Islamic Shari`ah (Islamic Law) or is it no more than a Bid`ah (innovation in religion). May Allah reward you.

A: We know of no legal basis for what you have mentioned, it is an innovated Bid`ah. The Prophet (Part No. 8; Page No. 169) (peace be upon him) said, He who introduces things extraneous to our affair i.e. religion, will have them rejected. Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim. According to another wording, He who does any act for which there is no sanction from our behalf, that is to be rejected. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.