Is it obligatory to recite a surah after Al-Fatiha when making up missed rak'ahs in the third or fourth rak'ah of congregational prayer?
Reciting a after Al-Fatihah in prayer is not obligatory, neither in fard (obligatory) prayers nor in nawafil (supererogatory) prayers. Rather, it is a recommended according to all scholars. It is recommended to recite a surah after Al-Fatihah in the first and second rak'ahs of all prayers. As for the third and fourth rak'ahs, Al-Fatihah alone suffices, though occasionally adding a surah to them is permissible.
If a congregant joins the Imam during a part of the prayer, what he catches up with the Imam is considered the beginning of his prayer. If the remaining rak'ahs are the third and fourth, he recites only Al-Fatihah in them. If it is the second rak'ah and subsequent ones, he recites Al-Fatihah and a surah in the second, and only Al-Fatihah in the ones thereafter.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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- Original fatwa ID
- 11079
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- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy