Masnoun Qiraat in the Farz Salah

The Surah (chapter) that Rasulullah (Sallalaahu Alaihi Wasalam) used to recite in the Farz Salah are in the latter part of the Qur'an-e-Kareem.  That is, from Surah Al-Hujurat (49) till the end (Surah An-Naas). These Surah are called Mufassal, probably because they are very short compared to the other Surah in the Quran.  They also require Bismillah the recitation that separates one Surah from another) to be recited at a closer frequency. The word Mufassal itself means something that is separated from something else. The separation of one Surah from another is very frequent in this last part of the Quran.  That is why they are known as Mufassal.  Another meaning of Mufassal is something determined, established, and stable.  So according to this second meaning, these Surah are called Mufassal because there is very little amendment in them.  Mufassal is divided into three categories:

طوال المفصل (Tiwaal-ul-Mufassal)
اوساط المفصل (Ausaat-ul-Mufassal) 
قصار المفصل (Qisaar-ul-Mufassal) 

Tiwaal-ul-Mufassal starts from Surah Al-Hujurat (49) till Surah Al-Buruj (85),

Ausaat-ul-Mufassal ends with Surah Al-Bayyinah (98)

Qisaar-ul-Mufassal ends with Surah An-Naas (114).

It is Sunnah to recite the Surah which are in the category of Tiwaal-ul-Mafassal in the Farz of Fajr and Zohr Salah.  In Assr and Esha Salah, it is Sunnah to recite the Surah in the category of Ausat-ul-Mufassal and in the Maghrib Salah, the Surah in the Qisar-ul-Mufasal category.

As a principle, the Imaam must read an amount and in a manner that is not heavy on the Muswalli.  If the Imam has a habit of reading in a slow pace, then he should not read much so as not to make the Muswalli weary of a long Salah.  Rasulullah (Sallalaahu Alaihi Wasalam) recommended to lead the Salah lightly because there are all types of people that are praying in the congregation.  They can be people who are sick, old and those who have to see to their work.  This is to encourage the people to come and perform the Salah.  The Muswalli who has some work to do will only perform Salah if he knows that the Imam will not prolong the Salah.  As a result, he will not think of delaying or postponing his Salah nor neglecting it completely because he knows that the Imam is not in the habit of prolonging the Salah.  Otherwise, either the Muswalli will suffer or the imam will not be seen as an encouragement for them to come and perform Salah.

Matters which are practised according to the Sunnah are very simple to carry out.  It is only when one adds to it that it becomes complicated. Salah is not made for the Imam to impress the Muswalli with his Qiraat.  It is an Ibaadah which will be more profitable if the Tareeqah (manner) of Nabi (Sallalaahu Alaihi Wasalam) is adopted. We notice the same scenario in the celebration of Nikaah. Nikaah is an event that takes just few minutes to perform. But with all the superfluous additions, a Nikaah ceremony sounds more like a show than a practice of Ibadah. At times, a person has to allocate more than sufficient time in order to be able to attend a Nikaah. At times, it can last up to an hour or so with all the added flavours.  And yet, when one considers well, the Nikaah should last no more than 5 minutes.

It is an epoch of Fitnah where people want to show off who they are, instead of showing people what the Deen is and what should be done. The work of Deen will be distorted as long as they have such conceptions. Everything can be rectified and can be put in order if we adopt the Sunnah. Everything will be simple, easy and splendid.

 [English version of “Masnoune Qiraat dans banne namaz faraz” - Al Jamiat Vol.8 No.5]