Is voluntary prayer binding upon commencement, requiring make-up if broken?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Fasting
Primary text
The majority of our companions hold that voluntary prayer is not binding upon commencement, which is the view of Ibn Abbas. The justification is that what is permissible to abandon entirely is also permissible to abandon partially, unlike Hajj and Umrah, which are distinct.
Supporting text
A narration from Ahmad suggests prayer is more stringent and binding upon commencement, stating that one who starts voluntary fasting remains with the choice, but one who starts prayer should not cut it short. Some scholars, following this interpretation, hold that if broken, it must be made up. This view is supported by the reasoning that prayer possesses Ihrām and Ihlāl (sanctuary and release), thus becoming binding upon starting, similar to Hajj.