B) Ibn Abbas—may Allah be pleased with him and his father—reported “that the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—would recite in the two rak‘ahs of Fajr, in the first: ‘Say, “We believe in Allah and what has been revealed to us…”’—the verse in al-Baqara [136]—and in the second: ‘We believe in Allah, and bear witness that we are Muslims’ [Āl Imrān: 52].”
According to another narration: “In the two rak‘ahs of Fajr, the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—would recite: ‘Say, “We believe in Allah and what has been revealed to us”’ [al-Baqara: 136], and the verse in Āl Imrān: ‘Come to a common word between us and you’ [Āl Imrān: 64].” (1)
The two hadiths indicate that it is recommended to recite Sūrat al-Ikhlās in the first rak‘ah and Sūrat “Say, ‘O disbelievers!’” in the second rak‘ah of the two rak‘ahs of Fajr. They likewise indicate that it is recommended to recite the verses from Sūrat al-Baqara and Sūrat Āl Imrān. A Muslim should therefore sometimes recite one pair and sometimes the other, thereby following the sunnah. (2)
Fifth: Lying Down after the Two Rak‘ahs
When a Muslim performs the regular sunnah prayer of Fajr at home, it is recommended that he lie down on his right side, based on the following report:
A) Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—said: “When any of you has performed the two rak‘ahs of Fajr, let him lie down on his right side.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhī. (3)