Is the prostration for forgetfulness obligatory for one who reverses the order of the surahs in prayer?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : He says: If I am reciting a surah in prayer, for example, I am in Surat al-Qalam, then I move to Surat al-Muzzammil, and then to Surat al-Jinn by mistake, and at that time I am the imam and none of the ma'mum (those praying behind) correct me, is the prostration for forgetfulness obligatory for me or not?
The Shaykh : The prostration for forgetfulness is not obligatory for you if you reverse the order in the Qur'an, meaning you start from the end of the Qur'an and then return to the beginning, like the example you mentioned in your question. However, you should arrange the Qur'an as the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) arranged it in the known manner in the mushaf, because the arrangement of the Qur'an by verses is a matter of divine prescription, meaning it was received from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). As for its arrangement by surahs, the scholars have two opinions in that regard, and it appears that some of it is arranged by divine prescription and some of it is arranged by independent legal reasoning. Therefore, a person should not deviate from this known arrangement in the mushaf. The Hanbali jurists (may Allah have mercy on them) explicitly stated that it is disliked to reverse the order of the surahs.
The Shaykh : The prostration for forgetfulness is not obligatory for you if you reverse the order in the Qur'an, meaning you start from the end of the Qur'an and then return to the beginning, like the example you mentioned in your question. However, you should arrange the Qur'an as the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) arranged it in the known manner in the mushaf, because the arrangement of the Qur'an by verses is a matter of divine prescription, meaning it was received from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). As for its arrangement by surahs, the scholars have two opinions in that regard, and it appears that some of it is arranged by divine prescription and some of it is arranged by independent legal reasoning. Therefore, a person should not deviate from this known arrangement in the mushaf. The Hanbali jurists (may Allah have mercy on them) explicitly stated that it is disliked to reverse the order of the surahs.