The ruling on repeating the recitation of Surat al-Ikhlas in prayer

The questioner : Is it permissible to recite Surat al-Ikhlas in every obligatory prayer, even if one is the imam?

The Shaykh : Yes. This is not part of the Sunnah, but if someone does it, as the man the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sent on a military expedition did, saying, "I repeat it because it describes Allah and I love to recite it," then we do not disapprove of him. However, if he does it to establish it as a recommended practice, we disapprove of it. I say to him: Did the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) do it? Did he order it? What is that? It was reported to us about this man that he did it and said it was a description of mercy and he loved to recite it. If what motivated you to do this is the same as what motivated the Companion, then there is no harm in it. But if you do it to establish it as a recommended practice, then no.

The questioner : Does the silence of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding the Companion constitute approval?

The Shaykh : It is approval, but it is not approval that it is a Sunnah. It is approval of the act; if he had not approved it, it would have been an innovation.