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Is the recitation of a surah after Al-Fatiha restricted to the first two rak'ahs in the supererogatory prayers, as is the case in the obligatory prayers?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Scholars differ regarding the recitation of a surah after Al-Fatihah in the last two rak'ahs of a four-rak'ah prayer and the third rak'ah of a three-rak'ah prayer. The Malikis hold that it is prescribed only in the first two rak'ahs, and there is no issue with adding it in the last two. The Shafi'is (according to the more prominent opinion) and the Hanbalis believe it is prescribed only in the first two rak'ahs and not others. The opposing view among the Shafi'is allows for it in the last two rak'ahs as well. The preponderant opinion is the permissibility of recitation in the last two rak'ahs of a four-rak'ah prayer and the last rak'ah of a three-rak'ah prayer, whether obligatory or supererogatory, based on the hadith of Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri in Sahih Muslim.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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