Minchah and Mussaf: Which Takes Precedence?
Question: If one forgot to daven Mussaf (on Shabbos, Rosh Chodesh or Yom Tov) and only remembered to do so in the afternoon, which should he daven first—Mussaf or Minchah?
Discussion: In most cases, Mussaf should be davened first, followed by Minchah. This is because the correct order of the prayers follows the order of the sacrifices that were brought in the Beis ha-Mikdash, and the mussaf sacrifice was always brought before the afternoon Korban Tamid, which was the last offering of the day.105
[The primary exception to this halachah is the case of a person who is required to daven Minchah at that particular time, e.g., before partaking in a wedding or a Sheva Berachos meal. In such a case, since one is not allowed to partake of such a meal before davening Minchah, it is considered as if the time of Minchah has arrived and one should not daven Mussaf first.106]
The halachah remains the same even if a man remembers to daven Mussaf so late in the day that he would not have time to daven Minchah any longer. In such a case, he should daven Mussaf and then daven Shemoneh Esrei twice at Ma’ariv, the first for Ma’ariv itself and the second as a tashlumin (“makeup”) for Minchah.107 If this happens to a woman, however, she should daven Minchah and omit Mussaf, since a woman is obligated (according to many poskim) to daven Minchah, but it is questionable whether she is obligated to daven Mussaf at all.108
105. Based on Mishnah Berurah 286:12; Aruch ha-Shulchan 286:17 and Kaf ha-Chayim 286:35-36.
106. O.C. 286:4.
107. See Mishnah Berurah 286:13; Aruch ha-Shulchan 286:17; Da’as Torah 286:4 and Kaf ha-Chayim 286:36. Some poskim rule that if the time for Minchah Ketanah has arrived, Minchah always takes precedence; see Rema 286:4 and Mishnah Berurah 620:2.
108. See Mishnah Berurah 106:4.