Answer
Short Answer: In your case, this means that you should do the following. If it is possible, you can pray the missed Maghrib and Isha prayers very late at night. You can do this after everyone else at home has gone to sleep. Do this if you have access to privacy at home i.e. a clean room. However, this might not be possible if you do not have any privacy at all. In that case, pray the missed Maghrib, Isha and Fajr prayers (any time) before you pray Dhuhr the next day.
………….
Asalaamu alaykum, and thank you for sending in your question to our website.
I am so glad to know of your interest in Islam. It is heartening that you are trying to follow the basic practice of prayer in Islam. From your question, what I have understood is that you have not yet converted to Islam. Based on this, I will try to advise you about what you should do.
Study the beliefs of Islam
It is commendable that you are striving to perform the daily Islamic prayers. This is indeed a very good idea. However, you should also make a simultaneous effort to study Islam. That is why, I strongly suggest that you study the basic beliefs of Islam.
Please take your time to study the 6 articles of faith. Also, do find out the details regarding the 5 pillars of Islam. Finally, please read and reflect upon the meanings of a few verses of the Qur’an every day.
Studying all these will add meaning to your daily prayers. It will also make you increase in your faith in God.
Making up missed prayers
When and if a Muslim misses their prayers, they are obligated to make them up. The way to do this is to pray these missed prayers in their correct sequential order. Missed prayers have to be made up as soon as it becomes possible to do so.
In your case, this means that you should do the following. If it is possible, you can pray the missed Maghrib and Isha prayers very late at night. You can do this after everyone else at home has gone to sleep. Do this if you have access to privacy at home i.e. a clean room. However, this might not be possible if you do not have any privacy at all.
In that case, pray the missed Maghrib, Isha and Fajr prayers (any time) before you pray Dhuhr the next day.
For a simple guide to offering basic Islamic daily prayers, please click here.
Do not delay conversion
You mentioned in your question that you cannot convert. However, you did not mention the reason for this. We do understand that many non-Muslims are in your position. That is, they love Islam and truly wish to become Muslim from the heart. However, their family circumstances make this very difficult.
If that is the case, then please do take my sincere advice. Intend in your heart, from now on, to convert whenever it is possible for you to do so. With time and age, every person becomes more independent. Keep praying to Allah to make it easy for you to embrace Islam. Also pray that you are eventually able to freely practice your beliefs. Allah listens to the prayer of every person who calls out to Him ardently.
Accepting Islam is the greatest blessing that any human being on earth can have. This life is short. All of one’s kith and kin and worldly possessions will be left behind when one dies. Only our faith in God and its practice will carry weight in the Hereafter.
To hear the testimony of faith that a person pronounces to become a Muslim, please click here.
Conclusion
In the end, I want to applaud you for striving to pray the daily Islamic prayers on time. Despite the many obstacles in your life, you are still persevering. Surely, this is a good sign of your love for Allah.
I ask Allah to make it easy for you to accept Islam and act upon it. Ameen.
And Allah knows best.
I hope that this answers your question.
Salam. Please stay in touch.
(From Ask About Islam archives)
Please continue feeding your curiosity, and find more info in the following links: