the obligatory prayer. Al-Khallal has reported, with his chain of narration from Ibn Umar, that he used to recite in the obligatory prayer two surahs in one rak'ah. If one recites a surah in a rak'ah, then repeats it in the second, there is no harm; due to what Abu Dawud (21) narrated, with his chain of narration from a man from Juhaynah, that he heard the Prophet (peace be upon him) reciting in the morning prayer {When the earth is shaken} in both rak'ahs.

Section: It is recommended that one should recite in the second rak'ah a surah that follows the surah recited in the first rak'ah in [the] order [of the Quran]; because this is what has been transmitted from the Prophet (peace be upon him). It has been narrated from Ibn Mas'ud that he was asked about a person who recites the Quran in reverse order? He said: That is the one with the reversed heart. Abu Ubayd (22) explained this as reciting a surah, then reciting after it another that precedes it in the order [of the Quran]. If one recites differently from that, there is no harm in it. Ahmad said, when asked about this matter: There is no harm in it, is not a child taught in this manner? And he said in the narration of Muhanna: It is more pleasing to me to recite from al-Baqarah downwards. It has been reported that al-Ahnaf recited with [Surat] al-Kahf in the first [rak'ah], and with [Surat] Yusuf in the second. He mentioned that he prayed the morning prayer with Umar using these two. Al-Bukhari cited this as evidence.

Section: When he finishes the recitation, Ahmad, may Allah have mercy on him, said: He should stand still and remain silent until his breath returns to him before he bows, and he should not join his recitation with the takbir for bowing. It has come from the Prophet (peace be upon him) that he had two silences: a silence at the opening of the prayer, and a silence when he finished the recitation. This is the hadith of Samurah. This is how Abu Dawud and others (23) narrated it.

153 - Issue: (If he finishes, he says the takbir for bowing).

As for the bowing (ruku'), it is obligatory by the [scriptural] text and consensus (ijma'). Allah the Almighty said: {O you who have believed, bow and prostrate} (1). The community has reached consensus on its obligation in prayer for one who is able.