THE SURAHS PROPHET (S.A.W) USED TO RECITE IN DIFFERENT PRAYERS
What he (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) used to Recite in the Different PrayersAs for which soorahs and aayaat he (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) used to recite in prayer, this varied according to the different prayers. The details now follow, beginning with the first of the five prayers and the references for the statements are provided at the end of the document in front of their respective number markings
THE RECITATION IN FAJR
1 – He (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) used to recite the longer mufassal184 surahs185, hence “he (sometimes) recited al-Waaqi’ah (56:96) and similar surahs in two rak’ahs”186.
2- He recited from soorah at-Toor (52:49) during the Farewell Pilgrimage.187
3- Sometimes “he would recite soorah Qaaf (50:45) or similar [in the first rak’ah].”188
4- Sometimes “he would recite the shorter mufassal surahs, such as “When the sun is folded up” (at-Takweer 81:29).”189
5- Once, he recited “When the Earth is shaken” (Zilzaal 99:8) in both rak’ahs, so that the narrator said, “I do not know whether the Messenger of Allaah forgot or recited it on purpose.”190
6- Once, on a journey, he recited “Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of the Daybreak” (Falaq 113:5) and “Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of Mankind” (Naas 114:6).191 He also said to ‘Uqbah ibn ‘Aamir (may Allaah be pleased with him): Recite the mu’awwadhatain192 in your prayer, for no seeker of refuge has sought refuge by means of anything like them.193
7- Sometimes he used to recite more than that: “he would recite sixty aayaat or more”194 – one of the narrators said, “I do not know whether this was in each rak’ah or in total.”
8- He used to recite soorah ar-Room (30:60)195 and sometimes soorah Yaa Sin (36:83)196.
9- Once, “he prayed the Subh [i.e. Fajr Prayer] in Makkah and started reciting soorah al-Mu’minoon (23:118) until, when he got to the mention of Moosaa and Haaroon or the mention of ‘Isa197 – one of the narrators was not sure – he started coughing and so made rukoo’.”198
10- Sometimes, “he would lead them in Fajr with as-Saaffaat” (77:182).199
11- “In Fajr on Friday, he would recite as-Sajdah (32:30) [in the first rak’ah, and, in the second,] ad-Dahr” (76:31).200
12- He used to make the first rak’ah longer than the second.201
Recitation in the Sunnah prayer before Fajr
His recitation in the two rak’ahs of sunnah in Fajr used to be extremely short202, so much so that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) used to say: “Has he recited soorah al- Faatihah or not ?”203
13- Sometimes, after al-Faatihah, he would recite the aayah “Say: We believe in Allaah and the revelation given to us…” (Baqarah 2:136) in the first rak’ah; in the second, the aayah “Say: O People of the Book! Come to common terms as between us and you…” (aal-‘Imraan 3:64).204 Occasionally, he would recite instead of the latter, “When ‘Isa found unbelief on their part…” (aal-‘Imraan 3:52).205
14 – Sometimes he would recite soorah al-Kaafiroon (109:6) in the first rak’ah, and soorah al-Ikhlaas (112:4) in the second;206 also, he used to say: An excellent pair of soorahs they are!207 He heard a man reciting the former soorah in the first rak’ah, so he said, This is a slave who believes in his Lord. Then the man recited the latter soorah in the second rak’ah, so he said, This is a slave who knows his Lord.208
THE RECITATION IN ZUHR
1- “He (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) used to recite al-Faatihah and two soorahs in the first two rak’ahs, making the first one longer than the second.”209
2- Sometimes he would make lengthen it to the extent that “the Zuhr prayer would have started, and someone could go to a plain: al-Baqi,’ fulfil his need, [come back to his place,] make his ablution, and then come (to the mosque) while the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) was still in the first rak’ah, it was that long.”210. Also, “they used to think that he did it so that the people could catch the first rak’ah.”211
3- “He used to recite in each of these two rak’ah about thirty aayaat, such as al-Faatihah followed by soorah as-Sajdah (32:30).”212
4- Sometimes “he would recite “By the Sky and the Night-Visitant” (Taariq, 86:17), “By the Sky, (displaying) the Constellations” (Burooj, 85:22), “By the Night as it conceals” (Layl, 92:21) and similar soorahs.”213
5- Occasionally, he recited “When the Sky is rent asunder” (Inshiqaaq 84:25) and similar ones.214
6- “They could tell that he was reciting in Zuhr and ‘Asr from the movement of his beard.”215
Recitation of Aayaat after al-Faatihah in the last two Rak’ahs”
7 – He used to make the last two rak’ahs about half as long as the first two, about fifteen aayaat 216, and sometimes he would recite only al-Faatihah in them.”217
8- Sometimes “he would let them hear an aayah or so.”218
9- “They would hear the tones of his recitation of “Glorify the name of your Lord Most High” (A’laa 87:19) and “Has the story reached you of the Overwhelming ?” (Ghaashiyah 88:26).”219
10- Sometimes “he would recite “By the Sky and the Night-Visitant” (Taariq, 86:17), “By the Sky, (displaying) the Constellations” (Burooj, 85:22), and similar soorahs.”220
11- Sometimes “he would recite “By the Night as it conceals” (Layl 92:21) and similar soorahs.”221
12- It was narrated that ‘Ata’ said: Abu Hurayrah said: In every prayer there is recitation. What we heard the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say, we tell you, and what he did not tell us about we cannot tell you. Whoever recites Umm al-Kitaab (i.e., Soorat al-Faatihah) has done enough, and whoever does more than that, that is better. [Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 738; Muslim, 396]
THE RECITATION IN ‘ASR
1- He (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) used to recite al-Faatihah and two (other) soorahs in the first two rak’ahs, making the first one longer than the second”222, and “they used to think that he did it so that the people could catch the rak’ah.”223
2- “He used to recite about fifteen aayaat in each of the first two rak’ahs, about half as much as he recited in each of the first two rak’ahs of Zuhr, and he used to make the last two rak’ahs about half as long the first two.”224
3- “He used to recite al-Faatihah in the last two.”225
4- “He would let them hear an aayah or so sometimes.”226
5- He used to recite the surahs mentioned under “Zuhr prayer” above.
THE RECITATION IN ‘MAGHRIB
1- “He (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) used to (sometimes) recite the short mufassal soorahs”227, so that “when they had finished praying with him, they could go away and (it was possible to) shoot an arrow and see where it landed.”228 Once, “while on a journey, he recited “By the Fig and the Olive” (Teen 95:8) in the second rak’ah.”229
2- But sometimes he would recite the long or medium mufassal surahs, hence “he would recite “Those who disbelieve and hinder (men) from the Path of Allaah” (Muhammad 47:48);”230 or soorah at-Toor (52:49);231 or soorah al-Mursalaat (77:50), which he recited in the last prayer he prayed.232
3- Sometimes “he would recite the longer of the two long surahs233 (A’raaf 7:206) [in two rak’ahs].”234 Or he would recite al- Anfaal (8:75) in two rak’ahs.235
Recitation in the sunnah prayer after Maghrib
4- In this prayer, “he used to recite “Say: O you who reject faith” (Kaafiroon 109:6) and “Say: He is Allaah, the One and Only” (Ikhlaas 112:4).”236
THE RECITATION IN ‘ISHA’A
1- ‘He (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) would recite the medium mufassal surahs in the first two rak’ahs237, hence “he used to recite “By the Sun and his splendour” (Shams 91:15) and surahs like it.”238
2- Or “he would recite “When the Sky is rent asunder” (Inshiqaaq 84:25) and make sajdah during it.”239 Also, “he once recited “By the Fig and the Olive” (Teen 95:8) [in the first rak’ah] while on a journey.”240
3- He forbade prolonging of recitation in ‘Ishaa’, and that was when:
Mu’aadh ibn Jabal (r.a) led his people in ‘Ishaa’ prayer, and made it very long for them, so one of the Ansaar left and prayed (alone). When Mu’aadh was informed about this, he said: “He is surely a hypocrite”. When the man heard of this, he went to the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) and told him what Mu’aadh had said, so the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said to him: “Do you want to be on who causes a lot of trouble, Mu’aadh?! When you lead the people, recite “By the Sun and his splendour” (Shams 91:15) or “Glorify the Name of your Lord Most High” (A’laa 77:19) or “Read in the Name of your Lord” (‘Alaq 96:19) or “By the Night as it conceals” (Layl 92:21)[because the old, the weak and those who have a need to fulfil pray behind you].”241
Night prayer (Tahajjud)
4- He (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) would sometimes recite loudly in it and sometimes quietly,242 He (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) would shorten his recitation in this sometimes and lengthen it sometimes, occasionally making it so exceedingly long that ‘Abdullaah ibn Mas’ood (radi Allaahu ‘anhu) once said: “I prayed with the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) one night, and he carried on standing for so long that I was struck by a wrong idea.” He was asked, “What was this idea?” He said: “I thought I would sit down and leave the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam)!”243
Also Hudhaifah ibn al-Yamaan said:
“I prayed with the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) that night when he started soorah al-Baqarah (2:286). So I said (to myself), “He will make rukoo’ after one hundred aayaat”. But he carried on after that, so I thought, “He will finish it (the soorah) in two rak’ahs”. But he carried on, so I thought, “He will make rukoo’ when he has finished it.” Then he started soorah an-Nisaa’ (4:176) and recited it all, then he started soorah aal-‘Imraan (3:200)244 and recited it all. He was reciting slowly; when he came to an aayah in which there was glorification of Allaah, he glorified Allaah; at an aayah which had something to be asked for, he asked for it; at mention of seeking refuge, he sought refuge (with Allaah). Then he made rukoo’ … ” to the end of the hadeeth.245
Also, “one night when he was ill he recited the Seven Long surahs.”246
Also, “he would (sometimes) recite one of these surahs in each rak’ah.”247
5- “It was [totally] unknown for him to recite the whole Qur’aan in one night.”248 In fact, he did not recommend it for ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Amr (may Allaah be pleased with him) when he said to him:
Recite the whole Qur’aan in each month. I said: “I have the power (to do more than that).” He said: Recite it in twenty nights. I said: “I have the power to do more”. He said:Then recite it in seven days and do not go beyond that.249 Then “he allowed him to recite it in five days.”250 Then “he allowed him to recite it in three days.”251 Further, he forbade him from reciting it in less time than that252, and he gave a reason for that by saying to him: Whoever recites the Qur’aan in less than three days does not understand it.253
6- In another version: He does not understand, the one who recites the Qur’aan in less than three days.254
7- Also when he said to him: For every worshipper has a (period of) keenness255 and every (period of) keenness has a lapse256, either towards a sunnah or towards a bid’ah (innovation); so he whose lapse is towards a sunnah has found guidance, and he whose lapse is towards other than that has been destroyed.257
For this reason, “he (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) would not recite the whole Qur’aan in less than three days.”258
8- He used to say: Whoever prays at night reciting two hundred aayaat will be written down as one of the sincere devotees.259 Also, “he used to recite soorah Bani Israa’eel (17:111) and soorah az-Zumar (39:75) every night.”260 He also used to say: Whoever prays at night reciting a hundred aayaat will not be written down as one of the heedless.261 Sometimes “he would recite about fifty aayaat or more in each rak’ah”262, or he “would recite about as much as soorah al-Muzzammil (73:20).”263
9- “He (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) would not pray all through the night”264 except rarely, for once:
” ‘Abdullaah ibn Khabbaab ibn al-Arat – who was present at (the Battle of) Badr with the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) – stayed up the whole night with the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) (in another version: a night when he prayed throughout it) until it was dawn. So when he finished his prayer, Khabbaab said to him: “O Messenger of Allaah, may my father and mother be sacrificed for you! Tonight, you have prayed a prayer the like of which I have never seen?” He said: Yes, it was a prayer of hope and fear; [indeed] I asked my Lord, Mighty and Sublime, three things; He granted me two, but refused me one. I asked my Lord that He would not destroy us the way the nations before us were (in another version: that He would not destroy my ummah with famine) and He granted me this; I asked my Lord, Mighty and Sublime, that He would not impose on us an enemy from outside us, and He granted me this; and I asked my Lord not to cover us with confusion in party strife, but He refused me this.” “265
Also, one night he stood (in prayer) repeating one aayah until it was dawn:
“If You do punish them, they are Your servants; if You do forgive them, You are indeed the Exalted in Power, the Wise.” (Maa’idah 5:121) [with it he bowed, with it he prostrated, and with it he supplicated], [so in the morning Abu Dharr (radi Allaahu ‘anhu) said to him: “O Messenger of Allaah, you did not stop reciting this aayah until it was morning; you bowed with it and you prostrated with it] [and you supplicated with it,] [whereas Allaah has taught you the whole Qur’aan;] [if one of us were to do this, we would be stern with him?] [He said: Indeed I asked my Lord, the Mighty and Sublime, for intercession for my ummah: He granted me it, and it will be possible if Allaah wills for whoever does not associate any partners with Allaah.266
A man said to him: “O Messenger of Allaah, I have a neighbour who stands (in prayer) at night and does not recite anything except “Say: He is Allaah the One and Only” (Ikhlaas 112:4), [repeating it,] [not adding anything else,] as if he considers it little.” So the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: By Him in Whose Hand is my soul, it is worth a third of the Qur’aan.267
RECITATION IN THE WITR PRAYER
There is a common misunderstanding that the Isha’a witr is to be prayed 3 rak’ahs only and this 3 rak’ah witr should be prayed with 2 tashahuds (sittings) like Magrhib. This is Haraam and not allowed in Islam. I have documented a detailed refute to this misunderstanding as well as explained the different methods of praying witr. You may find this document on the below address :
http://the-finalrevelation.blogspot.in/2012/07/how-to-pray-isha-witr-as-per-sunnah.html
1- “He (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) used to recite “Glorify the Name of Your Lord Most High” (al-A’laa 87:19) in the first rak’ah, “Say: O you who disbelieve” (Kaafiroon 109:6) in the second, and “Say: He is Allaah the One and Only” (Ikhlaas 112:4) in the third.268 Sometimes he would add on to the last one “Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of Daybreak” (Falaq 113:5) and “Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of Mankind” (Naas 114:6).269 Once, “he recited a hundred aayaat from soorah an-Nisaa’ (4:176) in the third rak’ah.”270
THE RECITATION IN THE 2 RAK’AHS AFTER WITR
As for the two rak’ahs after witr271, he used to recite “When the earth is shaken ” (Zilzaal 99:8) and “Say: O you who disbelieve” (Kaafiroon 109:6) in them.272
See the above mentioned link to see ahadeeth wherein rasool (s.a.w) did pray 2 rak’ah nafil prayer after Al witr.
RECITATION IN THE FRIDAY PRAYER
1- He (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) would sometimes recite soorah al-Jumu’ah (62:11) in the first rak’ah and “When the hypocrites come to you” (Munaafiqoon 63:11)273 in the second, sometimes reciting “Has the story reached you of the Overwhelming?” (Ghaashiyah 88:26) instead of the latter.274
2- Or sometimes “he would recite “Glorify the Name of your Lord Most High” (A’laa 87:19) in the first rak’ah and “Has the story reached you” (Ghaashiyah 88:26) in the second.”275
RECITATION IN THE ‘EID PRAYER
1- Eid Prayer”He (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) would (sometimes) recite “Glorify the Name of your Lord Most High” (A’laa 87:19) in the first rak’ah and “Has the story reached you” (Ghaashiyah 88:26) in the second.”276
2- Or sometimes “he would recite in them “Qaaaaf. By the Glorious Qur’aan.” (Qaaf 50:45) and “The Hour has drawn near” (Qamar 54:55).”277
RECITATION IN THE FUNERAL PRAYER
“The Sunnah is to recite al-Faatihah278 [and another soorah] in it.”279 Also, “he would be silent for a while, after the first takbeer.”280