## Mishneh Torah, Prayer and the Priestly Blessing Chapter 3

###### Mishneh Torah, Prayer and the Priestly Blessing 3:1
[Mishneh Torah, Prayer and the Priestly Blessing 3:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Mishneh%20Torah%2C%20Prayer%20and%20the%20Priestly%20Blessing/r/3:1)

תְּפִלַת הַשַּׁחַר מִצְוָתָהּ שֶׁיַּתְחִיל לְהִתְפַּלֵּל עִם הָנֵץ הַחַמָּה וּזְמַנָּהּ עַד סוֹף שָׁעָה רְבִיעִית שֶׁהִיא שְׁלִישִׁית הַיּוֹם. וְאִם עָבַר אוֹ טָעָה וְהִתְפַּלֵּל אַחַר אַרְבַּע עַד חֲצוֹת הַיּוֹם יָצָא יְדֵי חוֹבַת תְּפִלָּה. אֲבָל לֹא יָצָא יְדֵי חוֹבַת תְּפִלָּה בִּזְמַנָּהּ. שֶׁכְּשֵׁם שֶׁתְּפִלָּה מִצְוָה מִן הַתּוֹרָה כָּךְ מִצְוָה מִדִּבְרֵיהֶם לְהִתְפַּלֵּל אוֹתָהּ בִּזְמַנָּהּ כְּמוֹ שֶׁתִּקְנוּ לָנוּ חֲכָמִים וּנְבִיאִים:

**Mishneh Torah, trans. by Eliyahu Touger. Jerusalem, Moznaim Pub. c1986-c2007:**
The mitzvah of reciting the Morning Prayer entails that one begin praying at sunrise. The time [for prayer, however,] extends until the fourth hour, i.e., a third of the day.
If one transgresses or errs and prays after the fourth hour, he has fulfilled the obligation of prayer, but not the obligation of prayer in its time. Just as prayer is a positive Scriptural commandment, so too, its recitation at the proper time is a Rabbinic commandment, as established for us by Sages and Prophets.


###### Mishneh Torah, Prayer and the Priestly Blessing 3:2
[Mishneh Torah, Prayer and the Priestly Blessing 3:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Mishneh%20Torah%2C%20Prayer%20and%20the%20Priestly%20Blessing/r/3:2)

כְּבָר אָמַרְנוּ שֶׁתְּפִלַּת הַמִּנְחָה כְּנֶגֶד תָּמִיד שֶׁל בֵּין הָעַרְבַּיִם תִּקְּנוּ זְמַנָּהּ. וּלְפִי שֶׁהָיָה הַתָּמִיד קָרֵב בְּכָל יוֹם בְּתֵשַׁע שָׁעוֹת וּמֶחֱצָה תִּקְּנוּ זְמַנָּהּ מִתֵּשַׁע שָׁעוֹת וּמֶחֱצָה וְהִיא הַנִּקְרֵאת מִנְחָה קְטַנָּה. וּלְפִי שֶׁבְּעֶרֶב הַפֶּסַח שֶׁחָל לִהְיוֹת בְּעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת הָיוּ שׁוֹחֲטִין אֶת הַתָּמִיד בְּשֵׁשׁ שָׁעוֹת וּמֶחֱצָה, אָמְרוּ שֶׁהַמִּתְפַּלֵּל מֵאַחַר שֵׁשׁ שָׁעוֹת וּמֶחֱצָה יָצָא. וּמִשֶּׁהִגִּיעַ זְמַן זֶה הִגִּיעַ זְמַן חִיּוּבָהּ וְזוֹ הִיא הַנִּקְרֵאת מִנְחָה גְּדוֹלָה:

**Mishneh Torah, trans. by Eliyahu Touger. Jerusalem, Moznaim Pub. c1986-c2007:**
We have already stated that the time of the *Minchah* Prayer was established in correspondence to the daily afternoon sacrifice. Since the daily [afternoon] sacrifice was offered every day at nine and a half hours, [the Sages] established its time as nine and a half hours. This is referred to as "the lesser *Minchah*."
When the eve of Pesach fell on Friday, they would slaughter the daily [afternoon] sacrifice at six and a half hours. Accordingly, [the Sages] ordained that one who prays [Minchah] after six and a half hours has fulfilled his obligation. When this time arrives, the time of its obligation begins. This is referred to as "the greater *Minchah*."


###### Mishneh Torah, Prayer and the Priestly Blessing 3:3
[Mishneh Torah, Prayer and the Priestly Blessing 3:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Mishneh%20Torah%2C%20Prayer%20and%20the%20Priestly%20Blessing/r/3:3)

נָהֲגוּ אֲנָשִׁים הַרְבֵּה לְהִתְפַּלֵּל גְּדוֹלָה וּקְטַנָּה וְהָאַחַת רְשׁוּת. וְהוֹרוּ מִקְצָת הַגְּאוֹנִים שֶׁאֵין רָאוּי לְהִתְפַּלֵּל רְשׁוּת אֶלָּא הַגְּדוֹלָה. וְכֵן הַדִּין נוֹתֵן מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהִיא כְּנֶגֶד דָּבָר שֶׁאֵינוֹ תָּדִיר בְּכָל יוֹם. וְאִם הִתְפַּלֵּל הַגְּדוֹלָה חוֹבָה לֹא יִתְפַּלֵּל קְטַנָּה אֶלָּא רְשׁוּת:

**Mishneh Torah, trans. by Eliyahu Touger. Jerusalem, Moznaim Pub. c1986-c2007:**
Many people are accustomed to recite [the afternoon service at both *Minchah*] *Gedolah* and *K'tanah*, and [to consider] one of them as an optional prayer.
Some of the Geonim taught that it is proper to recite the optional prayer only [at the time of *Minchah*] *Gedolah*. This is reasonable, since it corresponds to [the offering of a sacrifice] which was not frequent every day.
If one recites [the service] as an obligatory prayer [at the time of *Minchah*] *Gedolah*, he should recite it only as an optional prayer [at the time of *Minchah*] *K'tanah*.


###### Mishneh Torah, Prayer and the Priestly Blessing 3:4
[Mishneh Torah, Prayer and the Priestly Blessing 3:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Mishneh%20Torah%2C%20Prayer%20and%20the%20Priestly%20Blessing/r/3:4)

הָא לָמַדְתָּ שֶׁזְּמַן מִנְחָה גְּדוֹלָה מִשֵּׁשׁ שָׁעוֹת וּמֶחֱצָה עַד תֵּשַׁע שָׁעוֹת וּמֶחֱצָה. וּזְמַן מִנְחָה קְטַנָּה מִתֵּשַׁע שָׁעוֹת וּמֶחֱצָה עַד שֶׁיִּשָּׁאֵר מִן הַיּוֹם שָׁעָה וּרְבִיעַ. וְיֵשׁ לוֹ לְהִתְפַּלֵּל אוֹתָהּ עַד שֶׁתִּשְׁקַע הַחַמָּה:

**Mishneh Torah, trans. by Eliyahu Touger. Jerusalem, Moznaim Pub. c1986-c2007:**
Behold, you have learned that the time of *Minchah Gedolah* is from six and a half hours until nine and a half hours, and the time of *Minchah K'tanah* is from nine and a half hours until there are one and a quarter hours left in the day. One may [however,] recite [the afternoon service] until sunset.


###### Mishneh Torah, Prayer and the Priestly Blessing 3:5
[Mishneh Torah, Prayer and the Priestly Blessing 3:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Mishneh%20Torah%2C%20Prayer%20and%20the%20Priestly%20Blessing/r/3:5)

תְּפִלַּת הַמּוּסָפִין זְמַנָּהּ אַחַר תְּפִלַּת הַשַּׁחַר עַד שֶׁבַע שָׁעוֹת בַּיּוֹם. וְהַמִּתְפַּלֵּל אוֹתָהּ אַחַר שֶׁבַע שָׁעוֹת אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁפָּשַׁע יָצָא יְדֵי חוֹבָתוֹ מִפְּנֵי שֶׁזְּמַנָּהּ כָּל הַיּוֹם:

**Mishneh Torah, trans. by Eliyahu Touger. Jerusalem, Moznaim Pub. c1986-c2007:**
The proper time of the *Musaf* Prayer is after the Morning Prayer, until seven hours of the day. One who recites it after seven hours, even though he has acted negligently, fulfills his obligation, since its time is the entire day.


###### Mishneh Torah, Prayer and the Priestly Blessing 3:6
[Mishneh Torah, Prayer and the Priestly Blessing 3:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Mishneh%20Torah%2C%20Prayer%20and%20the%20Priestly%20Blessing/r/3:6)

תְּפִלַּת הָעֶרֶב אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵינָהּ חוֹבָה הַמִּתְפַּלֵּל אוֹתָהּ זְמַנָּהּ מִתְּחִלַּת הַלַּיְלָה עַד שֶׁיַּעֲלֶה עַמּוּד הַשַּׁחַר. ותְּפִלַּת נְעִילָה זְמַנָּה כְּדֵי שֶׁיַּשְׁלִים אוֹתָהּ סָמוּךְ לִשְׁקִיעַת הַחַמָּה:

**Mishneh Torah, trans. by Eliyahu Touger. Jerusalem, Moznaim Pub. c1986-c2007:**
Regarding the Evening Prayer - even though it is not obligatory - a person who does recite it [must know that] its proper time is from the beginning of the night until dawn.
The proper time of the *Ne'ilah* prayer is such that one completes it close to sunset.


###### Mishneh Torah, Prayer and the Priestly Blessing 3:7
[Mishneh Torah, Prayer and the Priestly Blessing 3:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Mishneh%20Torah%2C%20Prayer%20and%20the%20Priestly%20Blessing/r/3:7)

הַמִּתְפַּלֵּל תְּפִלָּה קֹדֶם זְמַנָּהּ לֹא יָצָא יְדֵי חוֹבָתוֹ וְחוֹזֵר וּמִתְפַּלֵּל אוֹתָהּ בִּזְמַנָּהּ. וְאִם הִתְפַּלֵּל תְּפִלַּת שַׁחֲרִית בִּשְׁעַת הַדְּחָק אַחַר שֶׁעָלָה עַמּוּד הַשַּׁחַר יָצָא. וְיֵשׁ לוֹ לְהִתְפַּלֵּל תְּפִלַּת עַרְבִית שֶׁל לֵילֵי שַׁבָּת בְּעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת קֹדֶם שֶׁתִּשְׁקַע הַחַמָּה. וְכֵן יִתְפַּלֵּל עַרְבִית שֶׁל מוֹצָאֵי שַׁבָּת בְּשַׁבָּת לְפִי שֶׁתְּפִלַּת עַרְבִית רְשׁוּת אֵין מְדַקְדְּקִין בִּזְמַנָּהּ. וּבִלְבַד שֶׁיִּקְרָא קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע בִּזְמַנָּהּ אַחַר צֵאת הַכּוֹכָבִים:

**Mishneh Torah, trans. by Eliyahu Touger. Jerusalem, Moznaim Pub. c1986-c2007:**
One who recites a prayer before its proper time does not fulfill his obligation and must recite it again at its time. If, due to extenuating circumstances, one recites the Morning Prayer after dawn, [but before the proper time], he does fulfill his obligation.
One may recite the Evening Prayer of the Sabbath night on the eve of the Sabbath before sunset. Similarly, he may recite the Evening Prayer of Saturday night on the Sabbath. Since the Evening Prayer is not obligatory, we are not especially careful about its time. Nevertheless, one must recite the *Shema* at its proper time after the appearance of the stars.


###### Mishneh Torah, Prayer and the Priestly Blessing 3:8
[Mishneh Torah, Prayer and the Priestly Blessing 3:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Mishneh%20Torah%2C%20Prayer%20and%20the%20Priestly%20Blessing/r/3:8)

כָּל מִי שֶׁעָבַר עָלָיו זְמַן תְּפִלָּה וְלֹא הִתְפַּלֵּל בְּמֵזִיד אֵין לוֹ תַּקָּנָה וְאֵינוֹ מְשַׁלֵּם. בְּשׁוֹגֵג אוֹ שֶׁהָיָה אָנוּס אוֹ טָרוּד מְשַׁלֵּם אוֹתָהּ תְּפִלָּה בִּזְמַן תְּפִלָּה הַסְּמוּכָה לָהּ. וּמַקְדִּים תְּפִלָּה שֶׁבִּזְמַנָּהּ וְאַחֲרֶיהָ מִתְפַּלֵּל אֶת הַתַּשְׁלוּמִין:

**Mishneh Torah, trans. by Eliyahu Touger. Jerusalem, Moznaim Pub. c1986-c2007:**
Anyone who intentionally allowed the proper time for prayer to pass without praying, cannot rectify the situation and cannot compensate [for his failure to pray].
[If he unintentionally failed to pray or was unavoidably detained or distracted, he can compensate for the [missed] prayer during the time of the prayer closest to it. He should first recite the prayer of this time, and afterwards, the [prayer of] compensation.


###### Mishneh Torah, Prayer and the Priestly Blessing 3:9
[Mishneh Torah, Prayer and the Priestly Blessing 3:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Mishneh%20Torah%2C%20Prayer%20and%20the%20Priestly%20Blessing/r/3:9)

כֵּיצַד. טָעָה וְלֹא הִתְפַּלֵּל שַׁחֲרִית וְעָבַר חֲצִי הַיּוֹם יִתְפַּלֵּל מִנְחָה שְׁתַּיִם. רִאשׁוֹנָה תְּפִלַּת מִנְחָה וְהַשְּׁנִיָּה תַּשְׁלוּמֵי שַׁחֲרִית. טָעָה וְלֹא הִתְפַּלֵּל מִנְחָה עַד שֶׁשָּׁקְעָה הַחַמָּה יִתְפַּלֵּל עַרְבִית שְׁתַּיִם. רִאשׁוֹנָה עַרְבִית וּשְׁנִיָּה תַּשְׁלוּמֵי מִנְחָה. טָעָה וְלֹא הִתְפַּלֵּל עַרְבִית עַד שֶׁעָלָה עַמּוּד הַשַּׁחַר מִתְפַּלֵּל שַׁחֲרִית שְׁתַּיִם. רִאשׁוֹנָה שַׁחֲרִית וְהַשְּׁנִיָּה תַּשְׁלוּמֵי עַרְבִית:

**Mishneh Torah, trans. by Eliyahu Touger. Jerusalem, Moznaim Pub. c1986-c2007:**
How is this [exemplified]?
One who errs and does not recite the Morning Prayer before half the day passes should recite the *Minchah* Prayer twice, the first as *Minchah* [itself] and the second as compensation for the Morning Prayer.
One who errs and does not recite the *Minchah* Prayer before sunset should recite the Evening Prayer twice, the first as the Evening Prayer [itself] and the second as compensation for the *Minchah* Prayer.
[Similarly,] one who errs and does not recite the Evening Prayer before dawn should recite the Morning Prayer twice, the first as the Morning Prayer [itself] and the second as compensation for the Evening Prayer.


###### Mishneh Torah, Prayer and the Priestly Blessing 3:10
[Mishneh Torah, Prayer and the Priestly Blessing 3:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Mishneh%20Torah%2C%20Prayer%20and%20the%20Priestly%20Blessing/r/3:10)

טָעָה וְלֹא הִתְפַּלֵּל לֹא תְּפִלָּה זוֹ וְלֹא תְּפִלָּה הַסְּמוּכָה לָהּ אֵינוֹ מְשַׁלֵּם אֶלָּא אַחֲרוֹנָה בִּלְבַד. כֵּיצַד. טָעָה וְלֹא הִתְפַּלֵּל לֹא שַׁחֲרִית וְלֹא מִנְחָה מִתְפַּלֵּל עַרְבִית שְׁתַּיִם רִאשׁוֹנָה עַרְבִית וְהָאַחֲרוֹנָה תַּשְׁלוּמֵי מִנְחָה. אֲבָל שַׁחֲרִית אֵין לָהּ תַּשְׁלוּמִין שֶׁכְּבָר עָבַר זְמַנָּהּ. וְכֵן בִּשְׁאָר תְּפִלּוֹת:

**Mishneh Torah, trans. by Eliyahu Touger. Jerusalem, Moznaim Pub. c1986-c2007:**
One who errs and does not recite two consecutive prayers can only compensate for the last of them. How is this [exemplified]?
One who errs and recites neither the Morning Prayer nor the *Minchah* Prayer should recite the Evening Prayer twice, the first as the Evening Prayer [itself] and the last as compensation for *Minchah*. The Morning Prayer, however, has no compensation, since its time has already passed. This is also the case for other prayers.


###### Mishneh Torah, Prayer and the Priestly Blessing 3:11
[Mishneh Torah, Prayer and the Priestly Blessing 3:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Mishneh%20Torah%2C%20Prayer%20and%20the%20Priestly%20Blessing/r/3:11)

הָיוּ לְפָנָיו שְׁתֵּי תְּפִלּוֹת שֶׁל מִנְחָה וְשֶׁל מוּסָפִין מִתְפַּלֵּל שֶׁל מִנְחָה וְאַחַר כָּךְ מִתְפַּלֵּל שֶׁל מוּסָפִין. וְיֵשׁ מִי שֶׁמּוֹרֶה שֶׁאֵין עוֹשִׂין בְּצִבּוּר כֵּן כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִטְעוּ:

**Mishneh Torah, trans. by Eliyahu Touger. Jerusalem, Moznaim Pub. c1986-c2007:**
If two prayers are before him, *Minchah* and *Musaf*, he should first recite *Minchah* and afterwards *Musaf*. There are those who teach that one should not do this in a congregation, in order that people not err.