Title: During Prayers Should the Qur'an be Recited in Sequence? Question: When praying, should the Surahs recited in the first two rak`ah be in accordance with their position in the Qur'an ? For example, is it acceptable to recite Surah No. 114 in the first rak`ah and then Surah No. 90 in the second rak`ah ? Or must Surah No. 90 be recited in the first rak`ah and then Surah 114? There are always two answers to this, yes you must repeat them in their order, and second answer often given is, order doesn't matter as long as the Surah in the second rak`ah is not a lot longer than the first... But no one ever gives evidence for their answer ... Please, if anyone knows the real answer, and has some evidence of this, I would be grateful, if I am provided with it. Jazaak Allah Answer: In my opinion, the recitation of the Qur'anic Surahs in prayers should be in accordance with the sequence of these Surahs in the Qur'an . My opinion is based on my concept regarding the Qur'an . I hold the Qur'an not as a haphazard compilation of pieces of scattered revelation ( Ayahs or Surahs ), but as an organized "book". A book revealed and arranged by the Prophet (pbuh), according to the directives of the Almighty Himself. A book that is full of wisdom, not only in its directives, but also in the sequence of its verses and chapters. Obviously, any person who views the Qur'an as a complete and organized book, revealed as well as arranged by the Almighty, would not like to disturb the sequence of its verses and its Surahs . No wise person would like to read a book backwards or in a haphazard sequence - why should the Qur'an be an exception? However, this does not mean that if a person does not recite the Qur'an in his prayers in the correct sequence, he shall then have to repeat his prayers, or that his prayer shall be incomplete in any respect. 6 th December 1999