Making up missed prayers
Question
What is the ruling for one who [currently] maintains the obligatory prayers and supererogatory prayers associated with the obligatory ones to the best of his ability, but who has missed almost ten years of prayer?
Answer
Allah ordained certain acts for those who believe in Him which draw them nearer to Him, strengthening their relationship with Him.
Among these are the five daily prayers, which were revealed during the Mi'raj [the Prophet's ascension to the Heavens].
Regarding their importance Allah says:
"And establish prayer and give zakah and bow with those who bow [in worship and obedience]." [Qur'an 2:43];
"Maintain with care the [obligatory] prayers and [in particular] the middle prayer and stand before Allah, devoutly obedient." [Qur'an 2:238];
"And those who carefully maintain their prayers." [Qur'an 23:9];
and
Recite, [O Muhammad], what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish prayer. Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing. [Qur'an 29:45]
Prayer times
Allah the Almighty specified certain times for prayers when He said:
And when you have completed the prayer, remember Allah standing, sitting, or [lying] on your sides. But when you become secure, re-establish [regular] prayer; indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.| [Qur'an 4:103]
Making up missed prayers
The Prophet [pbuh] said: "Whoever sleeps through a prayer or forgets, let him pray it when he remembers as there is no other expiation for it," and then he recited the verse,
"And perform the prayer for My Remembrance. " [Qur'an 20:14]."
The Ruling
A Muslim must maintain prayers to the best of his ability and perform them at their prescribed times. If he sleeps through a prayer or forgets, he must pray it as soon as he remembers.
If a person ceases to pray for a long period, as is the case here, he must make up the missed prayers by praying a missed obligatory prayer that corresponds with the one he has set out to pray at that time.
Allah the Almighty knows best