Having completed the salaat, we should now consider & what the Prophet (PBUH) would recite during the different prayers. The Muslim is encouraged to recite what is easy for him from the Qur'an, but it is better to learn and follow the sunnah of Rasulullah (PBUH). The surah (chapter) and ayah (verse) which he (PBUH) would recite vary according to the different prayers.
RAK 'ATAINAL-FAJR. This refers to the two rak’ahs before the fajr (subhi) prayer. Here, the Prophet (PBUH) used to be extremely short, so much that A’ishah (RA) once said:
'Has he recited surah al-Fatihah or not. (Bukhari & Muslim)
The Prophet (PBUH) would recite after Surah al-Fatihah the verse:
“Say: We believe in AlIah and the revelation given to us.." (Q2:136)
in the first rak'ah and
"Say: O People of the Book! Come to common terms... " (Q3:64)
in the second (Muslim). Occasionally, he would recite instead of the latter,
“When Isa found unbelief on their part...” (Q3:52) (Muslun)
Further, sometimes, he (PBUH) would recite Surah al-Kafirun (Q106) and Surah al-Ikhlaas (Q112) in the first and second rak ah the first rak 'ah respectively (Muslim). Referring to these two (Q106 & Q112), the Prophet (PBUH) said
"An excellent pair of surahs they are!" (Ibn Majab)
FAJR (SUBHI): The Prophet (PBUH) used to recite the longer mufassal surahs (the last seventh of the Qur'an-Q50 – Q114) (Nasai), Hence, he recited Surah al-Waaqi 'ah (Q56) and similar surahs in two rak 'ah (Alunad). Also he recited:
Surah at-Tuur (Q52) (Bukhari),
Surah Qaaf (Q50) (Muslim);
Surah ar-Ruum (Q30) (Nasai),
Surah Yaa Sin (Q36) (Ahmad),
Surah al-Mu'minuun (Q23: 1-45 or 52) (Muslim);
Surah as-Saffaat (Q77) (Ahmad),
the shorter mufassal surahs as
Surah at-Takweer Q81 (Muslim),
Surah al-Zilzaalah (Q99) in both rak 'ah (Abu Daud), or the last two surahs (Q113 & Q114) (Abu Daud). He (PBUH) would recite, in the Fajr (Subhi) of Fridays, Surah as- Sajdah (Q32) and Surah ad-Dahr (Q76) in both rak 'ahs respectively (Bukhari & Muslim). He always made longer than the second. (Alunad)
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited