Description of the Prayer from Its Beginning to Its End

If someone hears a person reciting one of these verses, they should prostrate, even if they are not in a state of ritual purity (wudu). It is recommended for a person to prostrate upon encountering any verse that requires it, though the obligatory prostration applies specifically to the four verses of Sajdat al-‘Azā’im. The narration also advises the optimal choice of Surahs for daily prayers. In the first rak‘ah, one should recite al-Hamd (the Opening Chapter) and Surah al-Qadr (“Indeed, We sent it down on the Night of Power”). In the second rak‘ah, al-Hamd and Surah al-Ikhlas (“Say: He is Allah سبحانه وتعالى, [who is] One”), except for the evening (‘Isha) prayer on Thursday night, where it is recommended to recite Surah al-Hamd and Surah al-Jumu‘ah (“The Jumu’ah Prayer”) in the first rak‘ah and al-Hamd and Surah al-A’lā (“Glorify the name of your Lord عز وجل, the Most High”) in the second rak‘ah. For Jumu’ah’s Fajr, Dhuhr, and Asr prayers, recite Surah al-Hamd and Surah al-Jumu‘ah in the first rak‘ah and Surah al-Hamd and Surah al-Munafiqun (“The Hypocrites”) in the second. However, it is permissible to read other Surahs for the ‘Isha prayer on Thursday night and for Fajr and Asr prayers on Jumu’ah, though the midday prayer on Jumu’ah must include Surah al-Jumu‘ah and Surah al-Munafiqun. If one forgets or reads a different Surah before realizing, they should revert to the correct Surah unless they have completed half the Surah, in which case they should continue, regard it as two units of a supererogatory prayer, and then repeat the prayer with the required Surahs. It is narrated that there is a concession for reading other Surahs during Dhuhr on Jumu’ah, but it is not preferred to act on this concession unless there is a case of travel, illness, or urgent need. For the Fajr prayer on Mondays and Thursdays, it is recommended to recite al-Hamd and Surah al-Insan (“Has there [not] come upon man [a period of time]”) in the first rak‘ah and al-Hamd and Surah al-Ghashiyah (“Has there reached you the report of the Overwhelming [event]”) in the second. Reading these will protect one from the evils of those days. The companions of Imam al-Ridha عليه السلام noted that during his journey to Khurasan, he would recite these recommended Surahs, and thus they were included in this narration. Recite “Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim” aloud during all prayers, and recite all of the prayer verses aloud for Maghrib, ‘Isha, and Fajr without exerting yourself or raising your voice excessively. Keep a moderate volume, as Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Exalted, says: “Do not be loud in your prayer, nor be silent in it, but seek a way between.” During the Dhuhr and Asr prayers, do not raise your voice when reciting. If one intentionally does otherwise for any of these prayers, they must repeat the prayer; if it was done unintentionally, no penalty is required—except for the Dhuhr prayer on Jumu’ah, which must be recited aloud. The last two rak‘ahs should be recited with tasbih (glorification of Allah سبحانه وتعالى).