Reciting Surahs in proper order during Salah
Q: What is the order of reciting Surahs (Qur'anic chapters) in the Rak`ahs (units of Prayer) of Salah (Prayer)? For example: If I recite the first Ayahs (Qur'anic verse) of Surah Al-Baqarah in the first Rak`ah of `Isha' (Night) or Fajr (Dawn) Prayers, am I permitted to recite any short Surah and vice versa, or to recite Surah Al-Ghashiyah in the first Rak`ah and Surah Al-Sharh in the second?
A: You should recite Surahs of the Qur'an in Salah according to their order in the Mus-haf (copy of the Qur'an), but if you do otherwise as in the case of reciting Surah Al-Ghashiyah in the first Rak`ah and Surah Al-A`la in the second, this is permissible, but it is preferable not to do so. Q 6: Is it enough for an Imam to recite Al-Fatihah only in the last two Rak`ahs of a four-Rak`ah Salah? Is he obliged to recite Al-Fatihah only? If he adds a Surah, is this wrong? As for the Ma'mum (a person being led by an Imam in Prayer), is it sufficient for him to recite Al-Fatihah in every Rak`ah, or should he add any Surah of (Part No. 6; Page No. 390) the Qur'an? A: Reciting Al-Fatihah is a Rukn (integral pillar) in all Rak`ahs of Salah on the part of the Imam, the person performing Salah on his own, and the Ma'mum (a person being led by an Imam in Prayer). Each should recite Al-Fatihah in the last two Rak`ahs of a four-Rak`ah Salah and the last Rak`ah of Maghrib (Sunset) Prayer, with the exception of Zhuhr (Noon) Prayer in which it is occasionally Mustahab (desirable) to recite a Surah approximately equal to Al-Fatihah, because it is authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) did that as indicated in the Hadith narrated on the authority of Abu Sa`id (may Allah be pleased with him).May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.