Regarding What the Prophet (SWAS) Used to Recite in His Prayers (As Salaat) - Part 2

The Prophet (SWAS) tended to recite certain chapters of the Quran (surahs) in particular Islamic prayers (salawaat).

In the obligatory dawn (fajr) prayers, he (SWAS) sometimes used to recite the longer chapters of the Quran (surahs) from the last seventh of the Quran (the mufassal surahs) in the two unit of prayers (rakaats), and sometimes shorter ones. Once in a journey he (SWAS) recited the last two chapters (surahs) of the Quran in the dawn prayer and advised his Companions (RA) to recite these surahs (chapters) of protection (the muwawadhatayn) as they are the best means to seek protection.

Among the other chapters (surahs) he used to recite in the dawn (fajr) prayer were Surah Al Rum, Surah Al Yaseen, Surah Al Muminoon, and Surah Al Saffat. In the dawn (fajr) prayers on Fridays, he (SWAS) would recite Surah As Sajdah in the first unit (rakaat) and Surah Al Dahr (Al Insaan) in the second unit (rakaat). He (SWAS) used to make the first unit (rakaat) of prayer longer than the second.

In the non obligatory (sunnah) dawn (fajr) prayers, he (SWAS) used to make the recitation very short, sometimes reciting Surah Al Kafiroon in the first unit (rakaat) and Surah Al Ikhlass in the second, associating the first with belief in God (Allah) and the second to the knowledge of God (Allah).

As for the early afternnon (duhr) prayer, he (SWAS) used to recite the first chapter (surah) in the first rakaat (unit) of prayer longer than the second. In fact, sometimes it was quite long, with time enough for a person to go at the outskirts of the town, taking care of business and returning, allowing people to catch the prayer before the completion of the first unit (rakaat) if they were late for the congregation. At other times he (SWAS) used to recite chapters (surahs) with around 30 verses (ayaat) like Surah Al Sajdah, Surah Al Tariq, Surah Al Buruj, Surah Al Layl, Surah Al Inshiqaq, and other similar chapters (surahs) of the Quran. 

In the last two units (rakaat) of the early afternoon (dhur) prayer which consists of four units (rakaat), he (SWAS) would recite chapters (surahs) with half the length (i.e. 15 verses (ayaat) of chapters (surahs) like Al Tariq, Al Buruj, Al Alaa, Al Layl, Al Ghashiyah, and similar chapters (surahs)), and sometimes he (SWAS) did not recite any chapters (surahs) in the last two units (rakaat) of prayers, reciting only Surah Al Fatiha in them. 

His practice in the late afternoon (asr) prayer was similar to that in the afternoon (dhur) prayer in terms what he recited and its length, while in the sunset (maghrib) prayer, he (SWAS) used to recite the short chapters (surahs) from the last seventh part of the Quran (the mufassal surahs).

Once on a journey, he (SWAS) recited Surah Al Teen in the second unit (rakaat) of the sunset (maghrib) prayer, while at times he (SWAS) recited the long or medium length al mufassal chapters (surahs) of the Quran in the obligatory (fard) three units (rakaat) of the sunset (maghrib) prayer. Sometimes, he (SWAS) used to span Surah Al Araaf or Surah Al Anfaal in recitation over the first two units (rakaat) of the sunset (maghrib) prayer. As for the non obligatory (sunnah) of the sunset (maghrib) prayers, he (SWAS) used to recite Surah Al Kafiroon and Surah Al Ikhlas.

In the night prayers, the Prophet (SWAS) would recite the medium length al mufassal surahs in the first two unit (rakaat) such as Surah As Shams, Surah Al Inshiqaq and such. He (SWAS) once recited Surah Al Teen while travelling in the night (ishaa) prayers. He (SWAS) prohibited Muadh Ibn Jabal (RA) from prolonging the recitation of the night (ishaa) prayer so as to be merciful to the old and the weak.

He (SWAS) would sometimes recite loudly and sometimes silently in the pre-dawn (tahajjud) prayer, sometimes shortening and sometimes lengthening his recitation. He (SWAS) recommended reciting the Quran in one month (in pre-dawn (tahajjud) prayers), and if someone wanted to do more, he (SWAS) recommended that the Quran be completed in not less than seven days.

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