Q:
1. When reading surahs in our Salaah is there a specific sequence to choose a surah to read? e.g. Do we have to start from Wadduha then followed by the next surah?
2. Is it ok to read a short Surah followed by a longer one? e.g. Wal Asr and then Izaajaa'a. Please explain what is the correct way?
A:
1. One should maintain the sequence in the recitation of the Surahs. Hence in the second rakaat, one should not recite a Surah which comes before the Surah one recited in the first rakaat. Rather, one should recite a Surah that comes after the Surah one had recited in the first rakaat irrespective of whether the Surah comes immediately after the first Surah or not. However in a fardh Salaah, one should not omit one Surah in between two Surahs. In a fardh Salaah if one intentionally omits one surah between two surahs, it will be makrooh except in the case where the surah omitted is considerably longer than the surah before it. In that case it will be permissible to omit one surah. e.g. One recited Surah Watteen in the first rakaat and recites Surah Qadr in the second rakaat leaving out Surah Alaq in between. This law pertains to fardh Salaah. As far as nafl Salaah is concerned, then it is permissible for one to omit one Surah in between two Surahs.
2. The law in regard to recitation during Salaah is that the first rakaat should be longer than the second rakaat. If the second rakaat is longer than the first rakaat by three verses or more, then it will be makrooh. This law pertains to fardh as well as nafl Salaah.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
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