Substitution for missed obligatory prayer

If traveling and find safe spot, prostrate for each missed obligatory prayer and recite verse, and then, while cross-legged, recite substitution verse 18 times afterward

"When travelling, if ye should stop and rest in some safe spot, perform ye--men and women alike--a single prostration in place of each unsaid Obligatory Prayer, and while prostrating say "Glorified be God, the Lord of Might and Majesty, of Grace and Bounty". Whoso is unable to do this, let him say only "Glorified be God"; this shall assuredly suffice him. He is, of a truth, the all-sufficing, the ever-abiding, the forgiving, compassionate God. Upon completing your prostrations, seat yourselves cross-legged--men and women alike--and eighteen times repeat "Glorified be God, the Lord of the kingdoms of earth and heaven". Thus doth the Lord make plain the ways of truth and guidance, ways that lead to one way, which is this Straight Path. Render thanks unto God for this most gracious favour; offer praise unto Him for this bounty that hath encompassed the heavens and the earth; extol Him for this mercy that hath pervaded all creation."

(Bahá'u'lláh, Kitáb-i-Aqdas, par. 14)

Verse and prostration for travel or insecure circumstances, at home or away

"QUESTION: Concerning the holy verse: "When travelling, if ye should stop and rest in some safe spot, perform ye ... a single prostration in place of each unsaid Obligatory Prayer..."

"ANSWER: This prostration is to compensate for obligatory prayer omitted in the course of travel, and by reason of insecure circumstances...This provision regarding the compensating prostration applieth both at home and on a journey."

(Bahá'u'lláh, Questions and Answers to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, no. 21)

"QUESTION: If an Obligatory Prayer be omitted at home, is it to be compensated for by a prostration or not?

"ANSWER: In answer to previous questions it was written: "This provision regarding the compensating prostration applieth both at home and on a journey."

(Bahá'u'lláh, Questions and Answers to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, no. 61)

"QUESTION: Concerning the blessed verse, "When travelling, if ye should stop and rest in some safe spot, perform ye ... a single prostration in place of each unsaid Obligatory Prayer": is this compensation for the Obligatory Prayer missed by reason of insecure circumstances, or is obligatory prayer completely suspended during travel, and doth the prostration take its place?

"ANSWER: If, when the hour of obligatory prayer arriveth, there be no security, one should, upon arrival in safe surroundings, perform a prostration in place of each Obligatory Prayer that was missed, and after the final prostration, sit cross-legged and read the designated verse..."

(Bahá'u'lláh, Questions and Answers to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, no. 58)

Should perform the prayer instead of prostration/substitution if stopped and safely resting during obligatory prayer time

"QUESTION: If, after a traveller hath stopped and rested it is the time for obligatory prayer, should he perform the prayer, or make the prostration in its stead?

"ANSWER: Except in insecure circumstances omission of the Obligatory Prayer is not permissible."

(Bahá'u'lláh, Questions and Answers to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, no. 59)

"QUESTION: Concerning the holy verse: "When travelling, if ye should stop and rest in some safe spot, perform ye ... a single prostration in place of each unsaid Obligatory Prayer..."

"ANSWER: ... If, at the time of prayer, the traveller should find himself at rest in a secure place, he should perform that prayer."

(Bahá'u'lláh, Questions and Answers to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, no. 21)

"QUESTION: Concerning the blessed verse, "When travelling, if ye should stop and rest in some safe spot, perform ye ... a single prostration in place of each unsaid Obligatory Prayer": is this compensation for the Obligatory Prayer missed by reason of insecure circumstances, or is obligatory prayer completely suspended during travel, and doth the prostration take its place?

"ANSWER: ...If there be a safe place, obligatory prayer is not suspended during travel."

(Bahá'u'lláh, Questions and Answers to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, no. 58)

Exemption for condition of insecurity applies if one is home or not; may compensate for unsaid prayers

"Exemption from obligatory prayer is granted to those who find themselves in such a condition of insecurity that the saying of the Obligatory Prayers is not possible. The exemption applies whether one is travelling or at home, and it provides a means whereby Obligatory Prayers which have remained unsaid on account of these insecure circumstances may be compensated for.

"Bahá'u'lláh has made it clear that obligatory prayer "is not suspended during travel" so long as one can find a "safe spot" in which to perform it (Q and A 58).

"Numbers 21, 58, 59, 60, and 61 in Questions and Answers amplify this provision."

(Notes to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, no. 21)

The verse need only be recited after the last prostration

"QUESTION: If, due to missed Obligatory Prayers, a number of prostrations are required, must the verse be repeated after each compensating prostration or not?

"ANSWER: It is sufficient to recite the designated verse after the last prostration. The several prostrations do not require separate repetitions of the verse."

(Bahá'u'lláh, Questions and Answers to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, no. 60)

Posture of unity refers to sitting cross-legged

"The Arabic expression "haykalu't-tawhíd", translated here as "cross-legged", means the "posture of unity". It has traditionally signified a cross-legged position.

(Notes to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, no. 22)

Unclear now whether the insecure circumstances substitution verse is binding if one was forgetful, sick, or in others' company (since the substitution verse is apparently now binding -- see letter of 28 Dec. 1999)

"With regard to whether it is necessary to perform the prostrations and repeat the verse prescribed in paragraph 14 of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas if the Obligatory Prayers are missed for reasons other than "a condition of insecurity", a letter dated 15 April 1987, written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice, relates to this issue. [The Kitáb-i-Aqdas: The Most Holy Book (Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing Trust 1993), ¶14 and note 21.] Addressed to an individual who asked if this requirement also applied to Obligatory Prayers that were missed on account of such factors as forgetfulness, ailment, and inability to say the prayer while being in the company of others, the letter of the House of Justice points out that the law regarding actions to be taken in place of an Obligatory Prayer missed on account of insecure conditions is not binding upon the believers in the West. This is a matter on which the Universal House of Justice will legislate at the appropriate time."

(Memorandum dated 2 February 1998 at https://bahai-library.com/uhj_contacting_obligatory_exemptions#s1a )

See also

• Obligatory prayer
• Recitation of verses in time of danger