❀ Shar‘i Ruling on the Order of Recitation in ʿIshā Prayer ❀
Derived from: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah, Vol. 1, Kitāb aṣ-Ṣalāh, Page 409
If an Imām, in the four obligatory rakʿāt of ʿIshā prayer, recites Sūrah an-Nās in the first rakʿah and Sūrah al-Ikhlāṣ in the second rakʿah, what is the status of such a prayer?
From general aḥādīth, it is evident that reciting the Qur’ān in proper sequence during ṣalāh is preferable and better.
If the order of sūrahs is not followed, the ṣalāh remains valid, and there is no Sharʿī objection to it.
A sound ḥadīth confirms that:
The Prophet ﷺ once recited Sūrah an-Nisāʾ in prayer before reciting Sūrah Āl ʿImrān, even though Āl ʿImrān comes earlier in the Qur’ānic arrangement.
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 772, Bāb: Istihbāb aṭ-Ṭawīl al-Qirāʾah fī Ṣalāt al-Layl, Dārī edition, Vol. 1, p. 264)
In the case described—where Sūrah an-Nās is recited before Sūrah al-Ikhlāṣ in ʿIshā prayer—the ṣalāh is valid and acceptable. There is no need for repetition, though it is better to maintain chronological sequence in recitation when possible.
ھٰذا ما عندی، واللہ أعلم بالصواب
Derived from: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah, Vol. 1, Kitāb aṣ-Ṣalāh, Page 409
❖ Question:
If an Imām, in the four obligatory rakʿāt of ʿIshā prayer, recites Sūrah an-Nās in the first rakʿah and Sūrah al-Ikhlāṣ in the second rakʿah, what is the status of such a prayer?
✿ Guiding Principle on the Sequence of Qur’ānic Recitation in Prayer
✔ Reciting in Order is Preferred (Afḍal):
From general aḥādīth, it is evident that reciting the Qur’ān in proper sequence during ṣalāh is preferable and better.
✔ Reciting Out of Order is Still Permissible:
If the order of sūrahs is not followed, the ṣalāh remains valid, and there is no Sharʿī objection to it.
✿ Prophetic Evidence
A sound ḥadīth confirms that:
The Prophet ﷺ once recited Sūrah an-Nisāʾ in prayer before reciting Sūrah Āl ʿImrān, even though Āl ʿImrān comes earlier in the Qur’ānic arrangement.
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 772, Bāb: Istihbāb aṭ-Ṭawīl al-Qirāʾah fī Ṣalāt al-Layl, Dārī edition, Vol. 1, p. 264)
Conclusion:
In the case described—where Sūrah an-Nās is recited before Sūrah al-Ikhlāṣ in ʿIshā prayer—the ṣalāh is valid and acceptable. There is no need for repetition, though it is better to maintain chronological sequence in recitation when possible.
ھٰذا ما عندی، واللہ أعلم بالصواب
