It is permissible to read 4 Nafil as a Substitute for Qaza e Umri on the last Friday of Ramadan?
Query: There is a message being circulated via mobile SMS and email, and (those sending it) claim that it is a Hadith Shareef. It is said (in this message) that if a person had Qaza Namaaz and he is not aware of how many they are, he should perform 4 Raka’ats of Nafil with one Salaam on the last Friday of Ramadaan, and in every Raka’at after Surah Faateha, he should recite 7 times Ayat ul Kursi and 15 times Surah Kauthar. (It is claimed that) even if he has Qaza (Namaaz) equal to 700 years, this Namaaz will suffice as Kaffarah i.e. expiation for all of them. Is this proven from authentic Hadith Shareef ?
Answer: Allah Forbid! This is not the matter i.e. substance of any Hadith. Neither have I seen any such a Hadith, and nor can I believe that such a matter has been mentioned in the Hadith. This is to completely dismiss the obligatory command of Almighty Allah. If there is any such narration, then it is indeed forged. To send such an SMS, to receive it and (then) to act according to it, and to forward it, are all Haraam and contemptible actions.
References
Query 43, Ordinance of Sayyidi Taj ush Shariah, published by Imam Mustafa Raza Research Center, Durban, South Africa
[Translation]
Mufti Afthab Cassim Qadri Ridawi Noori