Prayer # 10: Recitation after Al-Fatiha

After reading Surah Al-Fatihah we can read any Surah we want from the Qur’an. As mentioned in the following hadith:

Narrated Abu Huraira, Radhiyallahu Anhu: Allah’s Messenger, Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam, said: “When you stand for prayer, say takbir and then recite from the Qur’an (of what you know by heart) (Bukhari: 757, Muslim : 397).

But the Prophet, Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam, used to read the following letter in his prayer.

Recitation in Fajr Prayer

Jabir bin Samura, Radhiyallahu Anhu, reported; Allah’s Apostle, Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam, recited in the Fajr prayer Surah Qaf : 50 or (the verses of) similar length. (Muslim: 458).

Other hadiths said that Rasulullah, Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam, read Quran Surah 113: Al-Falaq and  QS 114: An-Naas, QS 23 Al-Mukminun, QS 81 At-Takwir, QS 99: Az-Zalzalah.

Abu Hurairah, Radhiyallahu Anhu, reported that Allah’s Messenger, Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam, recited in the two rakaat (voluntary prayer) before Fajr prayer say,  non-believers (Al-Kafiroon) and say He is Allah Who is one (Al-Ikhlas) (Muslim: 726)

Recitation in Zuhr and Asr Prayer

Allah’s Messenger, Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam, used to recite in the first two rakaat of the Zuhr and Asr prayer Surah Al-Fatiha and two other surah, and in the last two rakaat, Surah Al-Fatiha (only) and he at times made us listen the verse and he prolonged the first rakaah as compared to the second one. And he did the same in the morning. (Bukhari: 776, Muslim: 451). 

Rasulullah, Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam, used to read Surah Al-Layl (92) and Surah Al-A’la (87), as recited in the following hadith:

Jabir bin Samura, Radhiyallahu Anhu, reported that Allah’s Apostle, Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wassalam, used to recite in the Zuhr prayer: By the night  when it covers over (QS Al-Layl 92). And in another version Glorify the name of Your Lord the most High (QS Al-A’la 87) and in the Asr prayer about that, and in the morning prayer the recitation was for a longer duration than this. (Muslim: 459).

Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri, Radhiyallahu Anhu, narrated that the Prophet, Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam, used to recite about thirty verses in every rakaat of the first two rakaat of Zuhr and about fifteen verses (half of that recited in the first part) in the last two (rakaat) and about fifteen verses in every rakaat of the Asr in the first two rakaat and half of the first ones in the last two rakaat.   (Muslim: 452)

Recitation in Maghrib Prayer

Prophet Muhammad, Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wassalam used to recite Surah At-Tur, Al Mursalat, or Al-A’raf during Maghrib prayer.

Jubair bin Mutim, Radhiyallahu Anhu, reported that I heard Allah’s Messenger, Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wassalam, reciting At-Tur (QS 52) in Maghrib. (Bukhari: 765, Muslim: 463).

Umm Fadl, Radhiyallahu Anha, the daughter of Harith, reported: I heard Allah’s Messenger, Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam, as reciting in the Maghrib prayer Surah Al Mursalat (QS 77).  (Bukhari: 763, Muslim: 462).

Aisha, Radhiyallahu Anha, reported that Allah’s Messenger, Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam, recited Surah Al-A’raf (QS 7) during Maghrib prayer. He divided the Surah in two rakaat.  (Nasai: 991).

Recitation in Isha Prayerlllustration: Google Images

According to the following hadiths Prophet Muhammad, Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam, recited Surah At-Teen (QS 95), Al-Baqarah (QS 2), Ash-Shams (QS 91), Al-Layl (QS 92), and Al-A’la (QS 87).

Al Bara bin Azib, Radhiyallahu Anhu, reported: Allah’s Apostle, Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam, recited in the Isha prayer At-Teen (Qs 95) “By the fig and the olive” and I never heard a person with sweeter voice than that of his.  (Bukhari: 769, Muslim: 464).

Jabir bin Abdullah, Radhiyallahu Anhu, reported that Muadh bin Jabal, Radhiyallahu Anhu, used to observe the prayer along with Allah’s Messenger, Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam, and then he led his people in prayer. He (once) observed the prayer Isha along with Allah’s Apostle, Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam, and then came to his people and led them in prayer and he commenced with Surah Al-Baqarah (QS 2). A man turned aside, said the taslim (Assalam-o-Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah). He then observed the prayer alone and went back. They said to him: O so and so, you have turned to be a hypocrite! He said: No by Allah, I shall certainly go to Allah’s Messenger, Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam, and inform him about this. So he came to Allah’s Messenger, Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam, and said: O Allah’s Messenger, Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam, we are a people who irrigate lands by employing camels for drawing water from the  wells and so we have work during the whole day long. Verily Muadh observed the Isha prayer along with you then came to his people and commenced Surah Al-Baqarah. Allah’s Messenger, Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam,  turned to Muadh and said: Muadh, are you one who would put people to (unbearable) trial? Recite: Ash-Shams (QS 91) “By the sun and its morning brightness.” Al-Layl (QS 92) “By the night when it covers over.” and Al-A’la (QS 87) “Glorify in the name of You Most High Lord.” (Bukhari: 705, Muslim: 465).

The Prophet, Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam, encouraged imams (priests) to shorten his surah when leading a prayer, since among the congregation there are those who are weak, elderly, or with an urgent concern.

Narrated abu Mas’ud, Radhiyallahu Anhu: Allah’s Messenger, Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallaam, said: “Some of you make people dislike good deeds. So whoever among you leads the people in prayer should shorten it because among them are the weak, the old and the one who is in a state that requires urgent relief.   (Bukhari: 702, Muslim: 466).

 

Reference: The Prayer of Muhammad, with help of authentic narrations of the Prophet, by Dr. Syed Shafiq Ur-Rahman  

lllustration: Google Images

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