Is it sufficient to recite some verses from Surat al-Sajdah and Surat al-Dahr in the Fajr prayer on Friday?
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The questioner : Is it sufficient to recite some verses from Surat al-Sajdah and Surat al-Dahr in the Fajr prayer on Friday?
The Shaykh : As for sufficiency, it is sufficient to recite only Surat al-Fatihah. However, the recommended practice (sunnah) is not achieved except by reciting Surat al-Sajdah in its entirety in the first rak'ah and Surat al-Dahr in its entirety in the other rak'ah. In fact, I will say something: if you intend to recite only part of Surat al-Sajdah on the assumption that Surat al-Sajdah was prescribed to be recited in the Fajr prayer on Friday because it contains a prostration, this would be an innovation in matters of religion, meaning it is not permissible. A person should not intend to recite the section containing the prostration, for example, splitting the surah into two rak'ahs to ensure he performs the prostration. This intention is not permissible because we do not know that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) recited Surat al-Sajdah specifically because it contains a prostration. Rather, it is closer to the truth, as Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah and others have said, that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) recited this surah and that one because of the reminders of the Hereafter, the Resurrection, and the raising of the dead, and the like. Therefore, the imam should either perform the recommended practice in its entirety by reciting each surah in its respective rak'ah, or he should recite whatever is easy for him from the Qur'an after Surat al-Fatihah. The matter is broad, as we have said. If he recites only Surat al-Fatihah, his prayer is valid. However, if the intention is to follow the recommended practice, the recommended practice is to recite the two well-known surahs.
The Shaykh : As for sufficiency, it is sufficient to recite only Surat al-Fatihah. However, the recommended practice (sunnah) is not achieved except by reciting Surat al-Sajdah in its entirety in the first rak'ah and Surat al-Dahr in its entirety in the other rak'ah. In fact, I will say something: if you intend to recite only part of Surat al-Sajdah on the assumption that Surat al-Sajdah was prescribed to be recited in the Fajr prayer on Friday because it contains a prostration, this would be an innovation in matters of religion, meaning it is not permissible. A person should not intend to recite the section containing the prostration, for example, splitting the surah into two rak'ahs to ensure he performs the prostration. This intention is not permissible because we do not know that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) recited Surat al-Sajdah specifically because it contains a prostration. Rather, it is closer to the truth, as Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah and others have said, that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) recited this surah and that one because of the reminders of the Hereafter, the Resurrection, and the raising of the dead, and the like. Therefore, the imam should either perform the recommended practice in its entirety by reciting each surah in its respective rak'ah, or he should recite whatever is easy for him from the Qur'an after Surat al-Fatihah. The matter is broad, as we have said. If he recites only Surat al-Fatihah, his prayer is valid. However, if the intention is to follow the recommended practice, the recommended practice is to recite the two well-known surahs.