Question Summary:
Qadha Salah

Question Detail:

Asalamu alaykum respected Mufti. I have missed approximately 8 years of salah and I have come to deeply regret this and want to correct it. I have asked Allah ta'la for forgiveness but want to know if that is enough. I am Hanafi and know that the opinon of Imam Abu Hanifa is to make up all the missed prayers. Unfortunately I suffer from depression, anxiety, OCD and a disability which causes me great migraines and heart arrythmias. As such I am unable to pray standing up and have resorted to sitting on a chair. I am unsure as to how I should make up so many missed prayers. Just the thought of it gives me great anxiety. Please advise dear Shaykh. Jazkallah khayr. 

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
The guilt and regret for having missed your Salah in the past is a sign of your consciousness of your obligation of Salah. This is Tawfeeq from Allah. It is compulsory to make Qadhaa (make up) missed Fardh Salats. This is a unanimous ruling of all the four schools of thought, Hanafi, Shafi, Maliki and Hanbali[i]. According to Imam Abu Hanifa Rahmatullahi Alayh, it is also compulsory to make up missed Witr Salah[ii]. You should commence making Qadha of your missing Salah immediately. All you require is a little courage. Once you have commenced making Qadha, Insha’Allah, it will become part of your daily routine. You may adopt performing one Qadha Salah with each present Salah. For example, perform one Qadha of Dhuhr with today’s Dhuhr. Likewise, for each Salah. If you are unable to stand and perform Salah, then only you may sit and perform Salaah. If you can stand and perform Salaah then it is not permissible to sit and perform Salaah[iii].
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Ridhwan Ur Rahman
Student Darul Iftaa
Cardiff, Wales, UK 
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.