Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Salaam Aleikum.

What is the significance of the `utarti` and `charti` surats? Is this an approved Islamic system of selecting the surats one prays during the obligatory and non obligatory parayers?

For e.g. can one pray during zohor prayers nazz and falaq in the first two rakaats or does it have to be falaq and naaz?

Wasalaam.  

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Answer:

Ascending or descending surah in prayer

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: What is the significance of the `utarti` and `charti` surats?

When the Gujrati term ‘utarti Surahs’ is used, it implies to recite the Surahs of the Glorious Quran in the order in which the Quran is compiled. For example, if one recites the 112^th Surah Al-Ikhlaas first, and then the 113^th Surah Al-Falaq or the 114^th Surah An-Naas, it would define the recitation of the Quran in the ‘utarti’ or descending order.

‘Charti’ Surahs would imply the exact opposite of the ‘Utarti’ method; thus if one recites the 114^th Surah An-Naas first, then the 113^th Surah Al-Falaq or the 112^th Surah Al-Ikhlaas, it would be reciting ‘charti’ or ascending Surahs.

Your Question: Is this an approved Islamic system of selecting the surats one prays during the obligatory and non obligatory parayers?

Each and every act of worship in Islam can only be approved by Allah and His Messenger (saws) and no one else. The Messenger of Allah (saws) almost always recited the Surahs or verses of the Glorious Quran in the order the Quran was compiled, but there are a few instances recorded in the authentic Sunnah whereby the Messenger of Allah (saws) recited the Surahs in his prayers in the reverse or ascending order.

Because the Messenger of Allah (saws) almost always recited the Quran in his prayers in the order the Quran was compiled or descending order, it would be preferred to pray in the descending order; but if one does pray in the ascending order, it would also be part of the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) and thus absolutely permissible and acceptable.

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 1.142

Except for the mid-day Friday and 'Id prayers The Prophet (saws) did not confine his recitation of the Qur'an in prayers to some specific surahs.

Except for the mid-day Jumua or Friday prayers and the two Eid prayers when the Prophet (saws) recited specific Surah combinations; in all the other prayers, whether obligatory or voluntary, he (saws) would recite various different Surahs of his choice.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan