would recite in the two rak‘ahs of the Fajr prayer, in the first: “Say, ‘We believe in Allah and what has been revealed to us, and what was revealed to Abraham and Ishmael …’” [al-Baqarah: 136], and in the second: “… ‘Say, “O People of the Scripture, come to a word that is equitable between us and you …”’” [Al ‘Imran: 64] (1).

He would recite these two passages at times, and at other times he would recite, in the first rak‘ah, “Say, ‘O disbelievers, …’” and, in the second, “Say, ‘He is Allah, the One, …’” (2).

As for the obligatory prayer, it has not been reported that the Prophet ﷺ recited from the middle portions of surahs. Rather, he recited from their beginnings and endings, as when he divided Surah al-A‘raf between two rak‘ahs (3).

Likewise, he divided Surah al-Mu’minun between two rak‘ahs when he was afflicted by a coughing fit (4). But as for reciting from the middle of a surah, this has not been reported from the Prophet ﷺ in the obligatory prayer. For this reason, some scholars deemed it disliked in the obligatory prayers (5). However, the sound view is that it is permissible.

Accordingly, we say: it is permissible to recite the endings, middle portions, and beginnings of surahs in both obligatory and voluntary prayers.

The evidence for this is:

First: the general import of Allah’s saying, “So recite what is easy of the Quran.” [al-Muzzammil: 20]