Fatwa #452396 September 2022United Kingdom
Changing the order of Surahs in Salah - Do i have to make Sajdah Sahw?
Question
Assalamu alaikum. If the Imam prays surahs in wrong order for example Surah Falaq in first and Surah Feel in second, would they have to do sajdah Sahwa?
Answer
Wa Alaykumus Salaam Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakaatuh
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Respected Sister in Islam ,
At the outset we apologise for the delayed response .
It is Wajib (compulsory) to follow the forward order of reciting Surahs in a Fardh and Witr Salah. If, for example, one has recited Surah Feel in the first Rakat of Fardh Salaah, he may recite Surah Quraysh or any Surah that comes after Surah Kauthar in the second Rakat . It will be incorrect and Makruh to recite Surah Al Asr, which is a Surah before Surah Feel , in the second Rakat as this will be going backwards and not reciting in the forward order.
However, if one recited Surahs in the backward order in Fardh Salaah, Sajda Sahw does not become compulsory.
Whilst it is advisable to maintain the forward order of reciting Surahs of the Quraan even in Sunnah and and Nafl Salaats , it is not Makruh to recite the Surahs in any order forwards or backwards , in Sunnah and Nafl Salaats. [] [] . One should also keep in mind that reading two Surahs whilst omitting a short Surah between them is also Makruh and should be avoided .[ ]
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best
Ebrahim Ibn Ahmed Dadan
Student Darul Iftaa
Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
(2020-07-08)