Q&A: At-Fault at the Beginning and Prevented at the End
At-Fault at the Beginning and Prevented at the End
Question
Someone waited until sunset to pray Mincha, and in the end something beyond his control happened and he was unable to pray. Does he have make-up prayer at Ma’ariv? Or is this a case of being at fault at the beginning and prevented by circumstances at the end, in which case he would not have make-up prayer?
Practically speaking.
Answer
This is the issue of circumstances beyond one’s control on the last day, brought in Nimukei Yosef on chapter 2 of Bava Kamma (where he disagrees with the Ramah). See an overview here:
https://www.yeshiva.org.il/midrash/38383
In practice, the question is why he waited. If he had a good reason (for example, that this is his regular Mincha minyan during the later Mincha time), he can make it up. If he just waited for no reason, it is doubtful. And in Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim 108:8, it rules that he does make it up.