Last week, we discussed that one who forgot to pray any given prayer may compensate for it during the next prayer by reciting the Amida prayer twice, the first for the current prayer and the second as the compensatory prayer.
Missing a Prayer
One may not miss a prayer as a result of monetary loss, such as if one is busy at work and one sees that if one stops to pray, one will lose money. Rather, one must pause all business transactions and go pray, for missing a time for prayer is a much greater loss than money.
Nevertheless, if one did miss a prayer as a result of being engrossed in a business deal and concern for financial loss, one is still eligible for the compensatory prayer during the next prayer, for this is not considered advertently skipping a prayer. Although he has acted incorrectly, one is still eligible for the compensatory prayer. Maran zt”l adds that it is preferable for one to stipulate in this situation and state: If I am eligible for the compensatory prayer, this is hereby an obligatory prayer. If not, this is hereby a voluntary prayer.
A Stipulation of Voluntary Prayer on Shabbat
On Shabbat, stipulations of voluntary prayer are forbidden since there are no voluntary prayers (or offerings) on Shabbat. Thus, in many situations of doubt where the Poskim recommend praying again with a stipulation of voluntary prayer, if these doubts arise on Shabbat, one must not pray again due to the doubt and because such a stipulation may not be made on Shabbat. However, in the situation we mentioned above, there is a clear ruling among the Poskim that one who forfeited a prayer as a result of a concern for financial loss is, in fact, eligible for the compensatory prayer while Maran zt”l adds that making the stipulation is merely a good idea.
Thus, if one misses Mincha prayers on Friday afternoon due to a concern for financial loss, one must compensate for this missed Mincha after praying Arvit on Shabbat night. Although making the stipulation of voluntary prayer is impossible in this situation because it is Shabbat, since the vast majority of Poskim rule that one must recite the compensatory prayer here, one may rely on them and do so even without making a stipulation.
One Who Could Not Pray at All
If one could not pray at all because of a situation beyond one’s control, such as illness, being in a filthy place and not being able to leave, and the like, some say that since Hashem wanted one to be absolved of this prayer, one need not recite the compensatory prayer, while others disagree. Indeed, Maran Ha’Shulchan Aruch rules that if one missed a prayer due to circumstances completely beyond one’s control, one must recite the compensatory prayer. Nevertheless, since this is subject to a disagreement among the Poskim, it is preferable for one to make the stipulation of voluntary prayer. On Shabbat and Yom Tov when such stipulations are forbidden, one should recite the compensatory prayer without the stipulation (similar to the aforementioned case).
