Re: A Public Service message !
The concept of Qada prayer is a later introduction, it did not exist at the time of the Prophet (pbuh).
A lot of people converted into Islam at the time of the Prophet (pbuh) and he did not ask them to offer their previous prayers. When they became Muslims and learnt that they really had to offer prayers and could not miss, they were asked to offer afterwards.
In my early years, I think I more like called myself "Muslim" but did not understand Islam as well. Later, when I really understood Islam and especially the concept of prayers, I offered all the prayers. To me, this was similar to a non-Muslim's case, in either case, both did not know they had to offer prayers and they both missed. Of course, everyone's circumstances and events are different. The companions of the Prophet (pbuh) used to offer nafl prayers.
As for the obligatory prayers that are to come in our lives, Quran has asked believers to offer prayers even if they are not ritually clean and water is not available but time for the prayer is running out:
"... and if you are under an obligation to perform a total ablution, then wash (yourselves) and if you are sick or on a journey, or one of you come from the privy, or you have touched the women, and you cannot find water, betake yourselves to pure earth and wipe your faces and your hands therewith ..." (Al-Maidah 5:6)