Tahdhīb al-Aḥkām 2, narration 25

Translation

Muhammad ibn Ya‘qub narrated from Ali ibn Ibrahim from his father from Amru ibn Uthman from Ali ibn Abdillah from Abdillah ibn Sinan. He said: I asked Abu Abdillah (a.s): “A man has upon him missed supererogatory prayers (nawafil) in such number that he does not know how many they are because of their abundance, what should he do?” Imam (a.s) said: “Let him pray until he no longer knows how many rak‘ahs he has prayed because of their abundance, then he will have fulfilled what he knows he owes.” I (narrator) asked: “What if he is unable to make them up because of the burden of his preoccupations?” Imam (a.s) said: “If his preoccupations are due to seeking a livelihood which he cannot do without, or due to the need of a believing brother, then there is nothing upon him. But if his preoccupations are worldly matters that have distracted him from prayer, then he must make them up, otherwise he will meet Allah (swt), Mighty and Majestic, as one who has treated lightly, negligently, and wastefully the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (swt), may Allah (swt) bless him and his family.” I (narrator) asked: “If he is unable to make them up, can he give charity (sadaqah) instead?” He (a.s) remained silent for a while, then said: “Yes, let him give charity.” I (narrator) asked: “How much should he give in charity?” Imam (a.s) said: “According to his means. The minimum is one mudd for each needy person in place of every prayer.” I (narrator) asked: “How many prayers does one mudd become obligatory for?” Imam (a.s) said: “For every two rak‘ahs of night prayer and every two rak‘ahs of day prayer.” I (narrator) asked: “What if he cannot manage that?” Imam (a.s) said: “One mudd for every four rak‘ahs.” I (narrator) asked: “What if he still cannot?” Imam (a.s) said: “Then one mudd for the entire night prayer and one mudd for the day prayer. And prayer is better, and prayer is better.”

Translation: Haydar Ali Shaykh ibn Muhammad — published with the edition, reproduced verbatim.