Author: Shaykh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani (Hafizahullah)
Question: Is it permissible to recite a Surah in addition to Surah Al-Fatihah in the last two Rakat of obligatory prayers?
Answer: It is permissible to recite a Surah in addition to Surah Al-Fatihah in the last two Rakat of obligatory prayers. This permissibility is established through authentic Hadith.
"We estimated the recitation of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in the Dhuhr and Asr prayers. In the first Rakat of Dhuhr, he would recite as much as Surah 'Alif Lam Mim Tanzil As-Sajdah,' and in another narration, he recited approximately thirty verses in each Rakat. In the last two Rakat, his recitation was half of that in the first two Rakat. In the first two Rakat of Asr prayer, the recitation was equal to the last two Rakat of Dhuhr, and in the last two Rakat of Asr, it was half of what was recited in the first two Rakat."
[Sahih Muslim, Book of Salah, Chapter on Recitation in Dhuhr and Asr, Hadith 452]
Question: Is it permissible to recite a Surah in addition to Surah Al-Fatihah in the last two Rakat of obligatory prayers?
Answer: It is permissible to recite a Surah in addition to Surah Al-Fatihah in the last two Rakat of obligatory prayers. This permissibility is established through authentic Hadith.
Evidence from Hadith
Narrated by Abu Saeed Al-Khudri (RA):"We estimated the recitation of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in the Dhuhr and Asr prayers. In the first Rakat of Dhuhr, he would recite as much as Surah 'Alif Lam Mim Tanzil As-Sajdah,' and in another narration, he recited approximately thirty verses in each Rakat. In the last two Rakat, his recitation was half of that in the first two Rakat. In the first two Rakat of Asr prayer, the recitation was equal to the last two Rakat of Dhuhr, and in the last two Rakat of Asr, it was half of what was recited in the first two Rakat."
[Sahih Muslim, Book of Salah, Chapter on Recitation in Dhuhr and Asr, Hadith 452]
Explanation
From this authentic Hadith, it becomes evident that reciting something in addition to Surah Al-Fatihah in the last two Rakat is permissible. The Hadith mentions that the Prophet (ﷺ) would recite half of what he recited in the first two Rakat. For example:- If he recited thirty verses in the first two Rakat, he would recite fifteen verses in the last two Rakat.
- Since Surah Al-Fatihah comprises seven verses, it follows logically that some additional recitation beyond Surah Al-Fatihah would complete the count.