677. Do We Need To Read The Surah In The Same Order As They Appear In The Quran

 By Asma bint Shameem 

The basic principle is to read the surahs in the salaah in the same order as they appear in the Qur’aan. 

Although it’s BETTER and *preferred* to keep the order of the Surahs when reciting them in prayers, it’s *not mandatory.* 

Rather it’s *permissible* to go out of order and the prayer is valid. 

Proof:

Hudhayfah radhi Allaahu anhu said: 

“I prayed with the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam 

one night, and he started to recite al-Baqarah. I thought, he will do rukoo when he reaches one hundred aayaat, but he kept going. 

I thought, he will complete it in one rakah, but he kept going. I thought, he will do rukoo now, but he started to recite al-Nisaa, and he recited all of it, then he started to recite Aal Imraan and recited all of it.”

(Muslim 772)

This shows that the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam did not read the suwar in order. 

Rather he read Baqarah then Nisaa then Aal-Imraan although Aal Imraan comes *before* Nisaa. 

So it’s allowed to go out of order although it’s preferable to keep the order as it. 

And Allaah knows best