repent of this, by agreement of the imams. The scholars differed only over whether this recitation is recommended or disliked. Mālik considers it disliked to recite a passage containing a prostration verse in prayers recited aloud. The correct view, however, is that it is not disliked, as held by Abū Hanīfah, al-Shāfi‘ī and Ahmad. For it is established in an authentic report that “the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, prostrated during the ‘Ishā’ prayer when reciting ‘When the sky is split apart.’” It is also established in the two Sahīh collections that “he used to recite ‘Alif Lām Mīm. The revelation’ and ‘Has there come’ in the Fajr prayer on Friday.”

Mālik also considers it disliked to single out a particular surah for recitation. Al-Shāfi‘ī and Ahmad, however, recommend the recitations established in the Sunnah, such as al-Jumu‘ah (Friday) and al-Munāfiqūn (The Hypocrites) in the Friday prayer; al-Dhāriyāt (The Winnowing Winds) and Iqtarabat (The Hour Has Drawn Near) in the Eid prayer; and ‘Alif Lām Mīm. The revelation’ and ‘Has there come’ in the Friday Fajr prayer.

There are, however, two useful points here:

First, by agreement of the imams, it is not recommended to recite another surah containing a prostration verse in its place. The recommendation concerns these two surahs, not the prostration itself; the prostration verse is incidental to their recitation. These two surahs mention creation and resurrection, which take place on Friday.

Second, this recitation should not be maintained so invariably that those who lack knowledge imagine it to be obligatory and regard anyone who omits it as doing wrong. Rather, it should be omitted occasionally, since it is not obligatory. And Allah knows best.