One brother asked me why is it important to recite the Qur’an in order (not in tarawih, but in regular prayers). For example, first rak’ah Fil then second rak’ah Quraysh, and not the other way around. He also said that someone had said to him that not reciting in order was wrong (if I recall correctly, he said sinful as well). He also asked that if this is true, then why this is, because after all the Qur’an was not even revealed in that order.

In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful.

Answer

According to the Hanafi Fiqh, reciting the Surahs in the order that they are in the Qur’an is necessary (wajib) inside the five daily obligatory prayers, the Jummah prayer, the Witr prayer and the Eid prayer. Reciting the Surahs in a reversed order deliberately is considered to be Makruh Tahrimi in these prayers, although it is not disliked in Nafl prayers.  (Fatawa Mahmoodiyah p.227 v.10)

One reason for the detestability of reciting the Holy Quran in the opposite order is that the majority of the scholars are of the view that the sequence compiled by Saaiduna Uthmaan Radiallahu Anhu of the Holy Quran is “tawqeefee” i.e. from Allah (SWA), thus, it will be detestable to read the Surahs in a different order than what is mentioned.

(Jadeed Fiqhi Masaail p.451 v.1)

Only Allah Knows Best   

Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham