❀ Prescribed Recitation in Salah
Guidance of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“When you stand for prayer, say the Takbir, then recite from the Qur'an whatever is easy for you.”
(Bukhari – Al-Adhan – Chapter: The command of the Prophet ﷺ to repeat the prayer of one who does not complete his bowing, 397; Muslim: 793)
Although one may recite any portion of the Qur'an during Salah, here we will discuss the specific Sunnah recitations of the Prophet ﷺ in different prayers and the virtues he mentioned about particular Surahs.
◈ The Importance of Surah Al-Ikhlas
An Ansari Companion used to lead the prayer at Masjid Quba and would recite قُلْ هُوَ اللّٰهُ أَحَدٌ after Surah Al-Fatihah in every Rak'ah.
… The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Your love for this Surah will enter you into Paradise.”
(Bukhari – Mu‘allaq form – Al-Adhan – Chapter: Combining two Surahs in one Rak‘ah: 477; Tirmidhi – Virtues of the Qur’an – Chapter: What is mentioned about Surah Al-Ikhlas: 2898)
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, this Surah is equal to one-third of the Qur’an.”
(Bukhari – Virtues of the Qur’an – Chapter: The virtue of ‘Qul Huwallahu Ahad’: 5013)
❀ Recitation in Friday and Eid Prayers
❖ Surahs Recited:
- سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْأَعْلَى
- هَلْ أَتَاكَ حَدِيثُ الْغَاشِيَةِ
(Muslim – Friday Prayer – Chapter: What is recited in Friday Prayer: 878) - Surah Al-Jumu‘ah and Surah Al-Munafiqun
(Muslim: 877) - قٓ وَالْقُرْآنِ الْمَجِیْدِ
- اِقْتَرَبَتِ السَّاعَۃُ
(Muslim – Eid Prayers – Chapter: What is recited in Eid Prayers: 891)
❀ Prescribed Recitation in Fajr Prayer
On Fridays:
- الم تَنزِيلُ (Surah As-Sajdah)
- هَلْ أَتَىٰ عَلَى الْإِنسَانِ (Surah Ad-Dahr)
(Bukhari – Chapter: What is recited in Fajr on Friday: 891; Muslim: 878)
On other days:
- ق ۚ وَالْقُرْآنِ الْمَجِيدِ
(Muslim – Salah – Chapter: Recitation in Fajr: 854) - قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُوْنَ — Up to the mention of Musa and Haroon عليهما السلام
(Muslim: 854) - وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَىٰ
(Muslim: 854)
Recitation Length:
- 60 to 100 verses
(Bukhari – Timing of Prayers – Chapter: Time of Dhuhr when sun begins to decline: 546; Muslim: 452) - قُلْ اَعُوْذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ and
قُلْ اَعُوْذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ
(Abu Dawud – Witr – Chapter: Regarding the two Mu‘awwidhat: 1462) - Surah Az-Zalzalah — In both Rak‘ahs
(Abu Dawud – Salah – Chapter: Reciting the same Surah in both Rak‘ahs: 832)
❀ Recitation in Sunnah of Fajr
- Very light recitation — Sometimes it was doubtful whether Surah Al-Fatihah had been recited
(Bukhari – Tahajjud – Chapter: What is recited in the two Rak‘ahs of Fajr: 1170; Muslim: 724) - First Rak‘ah: قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَ
- Second Rak‘ah: قُلْ هُوَ اللّٰهُ أَحَدٌ
(Muslim – Travelers’ Prayer – Chapter: Recommendation of two Rak‘ahs Sunnah of Fajr: 726)
❀ Recitation in Dhuhr and Asr Prayers
- In the first two Rak‘ahs: Surah Al-Fatihah along with another Surah
- In the last two Rak‘ahs: Only Surah Al-Fatihah
(Bukhari – Al-Adhan – Chapter: Reciting only Fatihah in the last Rak‘ahs: 776; Muslim: 452)
Dhuhr:
- وَالَّيْلِ اِذَا یَغْشٰی,
- سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْأَعْلَى
(Muslim: 454, 460) - وَالسَّمَآءِ ذَاتِ الْبُرُوْجِ,
- وَالسَّمَآءِ وَالطَّارِقِ
(Abu Dawud: 810; Ibn Hibban – Hadith: 1054)
Asr:
- Approx. 15 verses in each Rak‘ah, same as in the final Rak‘ahs of Dhuhr
(Muslim: 454)
Length of Dhuhr:
- The Prophet ﷺ prolonged the first Rak‘ah so that more people could join
(Abu Dawud – Salah – What is mentioned regarding the recitation in Dhuhr: 800) - A companion arrived after relieving himself and performing Wudu, and the Prophet ﷺ was still in the first Rak‘ah
(Muslim: 454)
❀ Recitation in Maghrib Prayer
- Sometimes longer Surahs were recited in Maghrib
(Bukhari – Al-Adhan – Chapter: Recitation in Maghrib: 467) - Surah At-Tur
(Bukhari: 567; Muslim: 464) - وَالْمُرْسَلاَتِ عُرْفاً
(Bukhari: 467; Muslim: 464) - Surah Al-A‘raf — Divided across both Rak‘ahs
(Nasa’i – Al-Iftitah – Recitation in Maghrib: 999)
❀ Recitation in Isha Prayer
- وَالتِّينِ وَالزَّيْتُونِ
(Bukhari: 767; Muslim: 464) - وَالشَّمْسِ وَضُحَاهَا,
- وَالَّيْلِ إِذَا یَغْشٰی,
- سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْأَعْلَى
(Bukhari – Al-Adhan – Chapter: Complaining when Imam prolongs prayer: 507; Muslim: 464)
