What is the view of Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen regarding someone who unknowingly omitted a condition for the validity of prayer, such as one who reached puberty and experienced seminal discharge but did not know what semen was or what its discharge entailed, and thus prayed without performing ghusl? Is he required to make up these prayers after he gains knowledge, or not?
Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen holds the view that whoever omits a condition for the validity of prayer due to ignorance of the ruling is not required to repeat it. He supported this with two cases: a woman who did not wash her head during ghusl from janabah out of ignorance, and a man who had intercourse with his wife without ejaculation, believing it did not necessitate ghusl. In both cases, he was of the opinion that repetition was not obligatory if the thought of it did not cross their minds. As for the majority of scholars, they mandate making up the prayer for anyone who omits a condition for its validity, because ignorance does not negate the obligation to make up the prayer. This is the more cautious view and the one given in fatwas.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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