Rules About Qiraa’ah (Recitation in Prayer)

Q. Is it waajib to recite qiraa’ah aloud in Fajr, Maghrib and ‘Isha prayers even if one is saying them alone?

A. It is not waajib to read qiraa’ah loudly in these prayers in such case, but it is certainly better.

Q. What is the ruling if these prayers are said qadaa?

A. The imaam should read them in a loud voice. For the munfarid there is a choice to say the qadaa aloud or in a low voice.

Q. How much qiraa’ah is sunnah in the fard prayers?

A. While on a journey, one may recite any small or big surah after Surah Faatihah. For one who is in residence, there is a masnoon quantity of qiraa’ah.

Q. What is the masnoon qiraa’ah in prayers when one is in residence?

A. It is sunnah to recite Tawaal-e-mufassal in Fajr and Zuhr, Qasaar-e-mufassal in Maghrib, and Awsaat-e-mufassal in ‘Asr and ‘Isha.

Q. What are Tawaal-e-mufassal, Awsaat-e-mufassal, and Qasaar-e-mufassal?

A. Surahs 49–85 are Tawaal-e-mufassal, 86–98 are Awsaat-e-mufassal, and 99 to the end of Qur’an are Qasaar-e-mufassal.

Q. Is this sunnah for the imaam only or also the munfarid?

A. It is sunnah for both.

Q. What if one leaves this sunnah qiraa’ah while in residence?

A. It is allowed.

Q. Is a particular surah fixed for a particular prayer?

A. No surah is fixed. One may recite any surah.

Q. Recitation of what surahs is masnoon in the sunnah prayers of Fajr?

A. In first rak’ah — Surah al-Kaafiroon (109). In second — Surah Tawheed / Ikhlaas (112).

Q. Recitation of what surahs is sunnah in Witr?

A. First rak’ah: Surah al-A’laa (87). Second: al-Kaafiroon. Third: at-Tawheed.