Chapter 21: 1-3
Laws of Missed Prayers
1. As explained in Chapter 18, a person who purposely delayed his prayers
until after the time for prayer has passed can never compensate for his
deeds. However, if he forgot to pray or was prevented from doing so by
forces beyond his control, he may compensate [by reciting the Shemoneh
Esreh a second time,] after completing the Shemoneh Esreh of the following
service. The same applies to a person who made an error in his prayers
which requires him to repeat the Shemoneh Esreh [and which he did not
realize until the time for that service has passed].
He should first recite the prayer appropriate for the time he is praying,
and then the prayer for which he is compensating. For example, a person who
did not recite the morning service when the time for the afternoon service
arrives, and then recite Tachanun. Immediately, afterwards, he should
recite Ashrei and then recite the Shemoneh Esreh again, to compensate for
the morning service.
If a person did not recite the afternoon service, he should recite the
evening service, wait only the amount of time it takes to walk four cubits,
and then, without hesitation, recite Ashrei and recite another Shemoneh
Esreh to compensate for the afternoon service.
If a person did not recite the evening service, then, directly after
reciting the Shemoneh Esreh of the morning service, he should recite
Tachanun, then Ashrei, and then recite the Shemoneh Esreh a second time, to
compensate for the evening service. Afterwards, he should recite the Psalm
Lam'natzeach and then, Uvo l'Tzion. [Just as it is forbidden to eat before
the morning service,] if is forbidden to eat before reciting this Shemoneh
Esreh, which compensates for the evening service.
2. A person did not recite the Shemoneh Esreh during the required time,
even though he had the opportunity, because he though that he would still
have time to do so after he completed the activity with which he was
involved. In the meantime, the time for prayer passed...
Similarly, a person who was preoccupied with financial dealings so that he
would not suffer a loss, and for this reason did not pray during proper time...
Even though it is forbidden to overlook the time for prayer because of
financial loss or other mundane matters, such individuals are considered as
having been prevented from praying by forces beyond their control, and may
compensate for prayers they failed to recite.
Similarly, a person who was too intoxicated to be fit to pray is also
considered as one prevented from praying by forces beyond his control. This
applies even though he began to drink when it was forbidden to do so, after
the time for prayer had already arrived.
3. One can compensate for a prayer [that was not recited in its proper
time] only in the service that follows. However, if one delays any longer,
it is impossible to compensate.
For example, a person who failed to recite both the morning and afternoon
services can compensate for the afternoon service in the evening service
which follows. However, he can no longer compensate for the morning
service, since two prayer times, the morning and the afternoon prayer
times, passed without his reciting it.*
* {The Shulchon Oruch HoRav 108:9 and the Mishnoh Beruroh 108,19 explain
that except on Sabbath and festivals, it is proper to recite an additional
Shemoneh Esreh as compensation. However, one should add a new request, in
addition to the normal text of the Shemoneh Esreh in that prayer. One
should make the following stipulation: If it is possible to compensate for
a missed prayer after one service has passed, this Shemoneh Esreh should be
considered as intended for that purpose. If that is not possible, this
Shemoneh Esreh should be considered as a prayer offered as a gift.}
