What should the order of qira’ah in prayer be? Does sajdah as-sahw become necessary if a person reads the same chapters in two rak’ahs by mistake?

Dear Brother / Sister,

Sajdah as-sahw does not become necessary if a person reads the same chapters in two rak’ahs by mistake.

What should the order of qira’ah in prayer be?

It does not invalidate prayer to read a chapter or verse in the second rak’ah that is located before the chapter or verse read in the first rak'ah but it is makruh. Similarly, it is also makruh to read a chapter in the first rak’ah and to skip only one chapter and read the next chapter in the second rak'ah; for instance, to read the chapter of al-Fil in the first rak'ah and the chapter of al-Maun in the second rak'ah. For, the chapter of al-Quraysh is skipped. It is necessary to skip at least two chapters so that it will not be makruh.   

It is more virtuous to read a full chapter in the rak'ahs in which it is necessary to read an additional chapter after al-Fatiha in prayers. However, it is also permissible to read one part of a chapter in one rak'ah and the other part in the other rak'ah; it is not makruh.

It is not makruh to read the end of a chapter in the first rak'ah of a prayer and the end of another chapter in the second rak'ah according to the sound view. It is not makruh to read from the middle or the end of a chapter in one rak'ah of a prayer and from the beginning or end of another chapter in the other rak'ah or to read a short chapter. However, one should not do so unless there is a necessity.

It is not makruh to read one chapter in one rak'ah of a prayer and to read a chapter after it in the other rak'ah if there are two or more chapters between. However, it is makruh if there is only one chapter between. However, if the chapter that is skipped between two chapters is at least three verses longer than the previous one, it is not makruh.

It is not makruh to read a verse and to move on to another chapter of the same verse if there are at least two verses between but it is better not to skip unless there is a necessity.

It is not makruh to read two chapters in one rak'ah. However, it becomes makruh if one or more chapters are skipped. Nevertheless, it is more appropriate not to read two chapters in one rak'ah in fard prayers.   

It is makruh to move from one verse to another in one rak'ah unless there is a necessity. It is makruh even if there are three verses between. However, if a person reads like that by mistake and remembers it, he reads those verses in order again.

If a person reads a verse in place of another verse and stops fully at the end of it and if he starts to read another verse, his prayer is not invalidated. If a person repeats a verse in a prayer, reads a chapter twice in a rak'ah or reads the same chapter in two rak'ahs and if it is a nafilah prayer performed individually, his prayer is not invalidated; however, if it is a fard prayer and if there is no excuse like forgetting or not knowing any other chapters, it is makruh.  

If the chapter of “an-Nas” is read in the first rak’ah, it is appropriate to read the same chapter in the second rak'ah too because to repeat is better than to return and read another chapter.

However, if a person who is performing prayers by khatm (reading the whole Quran in order) reads "al-Muawwizatayn" in the first rak'ah, he reads some verses from the chapter of al-Baqara after al-Fatiha in the second rak'ah. It is makruh to read a chapter in the second rak’ah that is located before the chapter or verse read in the first rak'ah. It is not makruh if it is not done deliberately. However, if one has started to read, he must not stop it. Some scholars say it is not makruh in nafilah prayers.

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