Can I make up the prayers for my parents?

In a Nutshell: No, you cannot make up the prayers for your parents. Most scholars of the Islamic schools of law agree it is not permitted to make up (qadaa') the prayers missed by the dead, because there is no evidence that it is permitted (mashru'). However, there are a few scholars who it was permitted. Juristic Analysis - Making up prayers for dead parents The majority of scholars say it is not permitted to make up the missed prayer of the dead. They back up their opinion by a statement of Abdullah ibn Umar (ra): عبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنَ عُمَرَ كَانَ يُسْأَلُ هَلْ يَصُومُ أَحَدٌ عَنْ أَحَدٍ أَوْ يُصَلِّي أَحَدٌ عَنْ أَحَدٍ، فَيَقُولُ لَا يَصُومُ أَحَدٌ عَنْ أَحَدٍ وَلَا يُصَلِّي أَحَدٌ عَنْ أَحَدٍ Abdullah ibn Umar used to be asked, "can someone fast for someone else, or do the prayer for someone else?" and he would reply, "No one can fast or do the prayer for anyone else." (Book 18, Hadith 674.) an-Nasa'i narrated a similar statement by ibn Abas. The stipulation of fasting has been conditioned by hadiths that permit it (quoted below). Imam al-Qurtubi said: وَأَجْمَعُوا أَنَهُ لَا يُصَلِي أَحَدٌ عَنْ أَحَدٍ "There is a consensus of scholars that it is not allowed to make up the prayer of another." (Tafsir al-Qurtubi, Vol. 17, pp. 114.) Few scholars allowed a Fiyah (ransom) for each day/prayer, as the case of fasting such as al-Butty and as-Sarkhasi. As-Sarkhasi, a Hanafi scholar said: إِذَا مَاتَ وَعَلَيْهِ صَلَوَاتٍ يُطْعَمُ عَنْهُ لِكُلِ صَلَاةٍ نِصْفُ صَاعٍ مِنَ حِنْطَة. "If a person died and he had missed a prayer, his inheritors can feed (it'am) the poor for each prayer half sa' (weight scale - a standard measure that equals 3kg) of wheat." (as-Sarkhasi, al-Mabsut, Vol. 3, p. 90.) It is better to adhere to the majority view here and do the following mandub deeds and offer them their reward to the dead. What good deeds could we do for dead parents? Most scholars agree, except narrations in Shafi'i and Hanbali schools of law who allowed in only in nadhr, the reward (thawab) does not reach the dead except the reward of sadaqah, 'Ilm, good offspring, fasting, Hajj, reading the Quran. They based their opinion on the following: وَأَنْ لَيْسَ لِلْإِنْسَانِ إِلَا مَا سَعَى "And that man shall have nothing but what he strives for." (Surat an-Najm, 53: 39.) But this verse is conditioned to other narrations that permit certain deeds, so most scholars allowed it only in the mentioned deeds. Such as the following: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ هَلْ بَقِيَ مِنْ بِرِّ أَبَوَىَّ شَىْءٌ أَبَرُّهُمَا بِهِ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهِمَا قَالَ:‏ "نَعَمِ الصَّلاَةُ عَلَيْهِمَا وَالاِسْتِغْفَارُ لَهُمَا وَإِنْفَاذُ عَهْدِهِمَا مِنْ بَعْدِهِمَا وَصِلَةُ الرَّحِمِ الَّتِي لاَ تُوصَلُ إِلاَّ بِهِمَا وَإِكْرَامُ صَدِيقِهِمَا ‏"‏ Messenger of Allah is there any kindness left that I can do to my parents after their death? He replied: Yes, you can invoke blessings on them, forgiveness for them, carry out their final instructions after their death, join ties of relationship which are dependent on them, and honour their friends." (Abu Dawud) إِذَا مَاتَ الإِنْسَانُ انْقَطَعَ عَنْهُ عَمَلُهُ إِلاَّ مِنْ ثَلاَثَةٍ إِلاَّ مِنْ صَدَقَةٍ جَارِيَةٍ أَوْ عِلْمٍ يُنْتَفَعُ بِهِ أَوْ وَلَدٍ صَالِحٍ يَدْعُو لَهُ "When a man dies, his deeds come to an end, except for three: A continuous charity, knowledge by which people derive benefit, pious son who prays for him." (Sahih al-Muslim) جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ أُمِّي مَاتَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا صَوْمُ شَهْرٍ أَفَأَقْضِيهِ عَنْهَا فَقَالَ ‏"‏ لَوْ كَانَ عَلَى أُمِّكَ دَيْنٌ أَكُنْتَ قَاضِيَهُ عَنْهَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ نَعَمْ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ فَدَيْنُ اللَّهِ أَحَقُّ أَنْ يُقْضَى ‏" "A man came to the Messenger of Allah (saw) and said: Messenger of Allah, my mother has died (in a state) that she had to observe fasts of a month (of Ramadan). Should I complete (them) on her behalf? thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Would you not pay the debt if your mother had died (without paying it)? He said: Yes. He (the Holy Prophet) said: The debt of Allah deserves more that it should he paid." (Muslim, Bukhari.) جَاءَتْ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَتْ إِنَّ أُمِّي نَذَرَتْ أَنْ تَحُجَّ، فَلَمْ تَحُجَّ حَتَّى مَاتَتْ أَفَأَحُجُّ عَنْهَا قَالَ ‏ "‏ نَعَمْ‏.‏ حُجِّي عَنْهَا، أَرَأَيْتِ لَوْ كَانَ عَلَى أُمِّكِ دَيْنٌ أَكُنْتِ قَاضِيَةً اقْضُوا اللَّهَ، فَاللَّهُ أَحَقُّ بِالْوَفَاءِ ‏ A woman from the tribe of Juhaina came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said, "My mother had vowed to perform Hajj but she died before performing it. May I perform Hajj on my mother's behalf?" The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, "Perform Hajj on her behalf. Had there been a debt on your mother, would you have paid it or not? So, pay Allah's debt as He has more right to be paid." (Sahih al-Bukhari) Common Misconceptions It's compulsory to make up all missed prayers of deceased parents. This is not universally agreed upon in Islam. Some scholars argue that it’s not obligatory but a virtuous act, while others believe it’s not permissible and recommend focusing on supplications and charity. Performing Hajj or Umrah is not beneficial for the deceased. Performing Hajj or Umrah on behalf of deceased parents is considered beneficial in many Islamic traditions. Only sons can perform these acts for deceased parents. Both sons and daughters can perform virtuous acts, including making up prayers, for their deceased parents. Prayers for deceased parents don't benefit them if they were not religious. Islamic teachings encourage praying for all deceased Muslims, regardless of their level of religious observance in life, believing that these prayers can provide benefit in the hereafter. Charity and supplications have limited impact on the deceased. In Islamic teachings, charity (Sadaqah) and supplications (Dua) are highly emphasized as beneficial acts that can reach and benefit the deceased. Conclusion The shari'a permits us to do istighfar, charity, Hajj, fasting, supplications, clear debts and other good deeds for our dead relatives and friends. However, there is no evidence in any authentic or established Sunnah where the Prophet (saw) permitted the believers to offer prayers or even fast for another or transfer its rewards to another. The scholars generally agree it is not permitted to make up a prayer they missed before death, but we could do the above rewardful acts instead. FAQs Can I perform missed prayers on behalf of my deceased parents? Islamic scholars have differing opinions. Some believe it is permissible to make up obligatory prayers missed by deceased parents, while others say that only du'a (supplications) and Sadaqah (charity) can benefit the deceased. How can I make up missed prayers for my deceased parents? If one follows the opinion that it is permissible, they can perform the missed prayers with the intention of dedicating the reward to their parents. However, the specific method may vary, and consulting a knowledgeable religious authority is advised. Is there a limit to the number of prayers I can make up for my parents? There is no specified limit, but it's important to balance this practice with one's daily obligations and personal prayers. What are other ways to benefit my deceased parents? Common practices include making dua for them, giving charity in their name, performing Hajj or Umrah on their behalf, and carrying out acts of kindness and piety that they encouraged. Can making up prayers impact the afterlife status of my parents? Many Muslims believe that good deeds performed by children can have a positive impact on the deceased parents' status in the afterlife, based on the hadith about a child’s supplications benefiting the parents.