Is it valid to seek refuge from the verses of punishment and ask Allah for the verses of mercy and favor in the obligatory prayer?
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The questioner : O Shaykh, may Allah preserve you, is it valid to seek refuge from the verses of punishment and ask Allah (Mighty and Majestic) for the verses of mercy and favor in the obligatory prayer?
The Shaykh : Yes, this is permissible. It is permissible for a person, when he passes a verse of mercy or a verse of warning, to ask [Allah] at the verse of mercy and seek refuge at the verse of warning, in both the obligatory and voluntary prayers. However, in the voluntary prayer, it is a recommended practice (sunnah), especially in the night prayer, due to the statement of Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him): "I prayed with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) one night, and he recited Surat al-Baqarah, then Surat al-Nisa, then Surat al-Imran. He did not pass a verse of mercy without asking, nor a verse of punishment without seeking refuge, nor a verse of glorification without glorifying." But this is in the night prayer. So in the night prayer, and indeed in all voluntary prayers, it is recommended to glorify Allah when passing a verse of glorification, to ask when passing a verse of mercy, and to seek refuge when passing a verse of warning.
As for the obligatory prayers, it is permissible, but leaving it is better, because those who described the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) did not say that he would glorify at the verse of glorification, seek refuge at the verse of warning, and ask at the verse of mercy.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : Yes, this is permissible. It is permissible for a person, when he passes a verse of mercy or a verse of warning, to ask [Allah] at the verse of mercy and seek refuge at the verse of warning, in both the obligatory and voluntary prayers. However, in the voluntary prayer, it is a recommended practice (sunnah), especially in the night prayer, due to the statement of Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him): "I prayed with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) one night, and he recited Surat al-Baqarah, then Surat al-Nisa, then Surat al-Imran. He did not pass a verse of mercy without asking, nor a verse of punishment without seeking refuge, nor a verse of glorification without glorifying." But this is in the night prayer. So in the night prayer, and indeed in all voluntary prayers, it is recommended to glorify Allah when passing a verse of glorification, to ask when passing a verse of mercy, and to seek refuge when passing a verse of warning.
As for the obligatory prayers, it is permissible, but leaving it is better, because those who described the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) did not say that he would glorify at the verse of glorification, seek refuge at the verse of warning, and ask at the verse of mercy.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.