Reciting One Verse
Question :

Can I recite one verse or a few verses of the Quran after Al-Fatiha in the prayers?

Answer :

One must recite one full chapter after Al-Fatiha in obligatory prayers. Reciting one verse or a few verses is not sufficient. It is sufficient to do so in recommended prayers.

Reciting Two Surahs
Question :

Is it permissible for me to recite two Surahs after Surah al Fatiha?

Answer :

Based on an obligatory precaution, one should only recite one Surah after Surah al-Fatiha. But one can recite a further Surah if it is not intended to be a part of the prayers, but just as additional recitation of the Holy Quran.

Diffrences in Rulings
Question :

I am a Muslim Shia. I am planning on marrying a Muslim girl who became a Shia recently. She is willing to learn more about our rulings of prayers. Can you explain to me?

Answer :

The detailed rulings on the prayer is mentioned in the books of religious rulings and edicts. We can point out some differences to consider, like the following:
a) Reciting the ‘Bismillah…’ in the chapter of al-Fatiha.
b) Reciting one full chapter after the chapter of Fatiha, including ‘Bismillah…’
c) Prostrating on earth or what grows on it, provided that it is not consumed for food , or worn as clothing.
d) Wiping the feet in wudhu, instead of washing them.
e) Wiping the head and feed with the wetness of the wudhu from washing the arms.
f) In performing obligatory Ghusl, it is a condition to start with the head.

Reciting Second Sura
Question :

When reciting a surah after Surah al-Fatiha in the first two Raka’at, do the Surahs have to be in ascending order or in any order? Could I read Surah al-Ikhlas in the first rak’a and Surah al-Kawthar in the second, or vice-versa?

Answer :

Yes, it is permissible, and there is no obligatory order.

Surah Feel and Quraysh
Question :

Can you explain the meaning of this hadith in which the Imam (peace be upon him) said that Surah al-Feel and Surah Quraysh is one Surah?

Answer :

You should consider the two mentioned chapters as one during the recitation of the prayers. If one recites Surah al-Feel, he should recite Surah Quraysh after it, including the Bismillah.

Verse of Prostration
Question :

If a woman in her menstrual period hears the verse with the obligatory prostration, is she obligated to perform the prostration? Is it possible to do so without a hijab, and on a carpet?

Answer :

Yes, it is obligatory on her to prostrate when hearing the verse of prostration. It is permissible without hijab, and based on an obligatory precaution it should be on natural earth like soil, stones, rocks and similar materials, or on what grows on earth provided that it is not consumed for food or worn as clothing.

The Verse of Prostration
Question :

If the verse of prostration is recited while I am in the middle of a prayer, what should I do?

Answer :

If he attentively listened to the verse of prostration during the prayer, he should move just his head down to signify prostration, and his prayer will not be invalidated. If he only heard the verse, then he should still do the same based on compulsory precaution. If he does not do so, he has committed a sin, but the prayer is not invalidated.

Deciding the Chapter
Question :

During the prayer, after reciting Surat al-Fatiha, does the second surah have to be decided upon before reciting "Bismillah al Rahman al Raheem"?

Answer :

Yes, one should decide which chapter to read before reciting the Bismillah. However, the overall choice that originates from repeatedly reciting a particular chapter is sufficient. For instance, if he is used to reciting Surah al-Ikhlas (chapter 112), then it is sufficient if he read it without fully being aware of this decision.

Al-Fatiha in the third and fourth rak’a
Question :

Is it permissible to recite Surah Al-Fatiha in the third and fourth rak'as in the daily prayers?

Answer :

Yes, it is permissible to recite the Surah Al-Fatiha in the third rak'a of the Maghrib prayer and in the third and fourth rak'a of the Dhuhr, Asr and Isha prayers.

Reciting the Tasbeehat Twice
Question :

His Eminence says that the al-Tasbeehat al-Arba'ah in the third and fourth units may be recited one or three times. What if somebody recites them twice by mistake? Is he required to perform the prostrations of forgetfulness (sujdood al-Sahw)?

Answer :

The prostration of forgetfulness is not obligatory in this case.

Bismillah before Tasbihat
Question :

Is it obligatory to recite “Bismillah…” before tasbihaat in 3rd or 4th rak’a prayer?

Answer :

The said is not obligatory.

The Voice During the Recitaion
Question :

Which prayers out of the obligatory prayers, do I pray in a whispering voice and which do I pray in a loud voice?

Answer :

It is obligatory to recite Surah Al-Fatiha and the chapter after it in the two rak'as of the Fajr, Maghrib and Isha Prayers loudly. It is also obligatory to recite Al-Fatiha and the chapter after it of the first two rak'as of the Dhuhr and Asr prayers in a low whispering voice, while reciting the Bismillah loudly. The recitation in the third and fourth rak'as of all the prayers must be in a low whispering voice. The said laws are to be observed by men. For women, reciting loudly is not obligatory.

Dhuhr Prayer on Friday
Question :

Is it allowed to recite Surah Al-Jumu’ah or any other surah aloud during Dhuhr prayer on the day of Friday?

Answer :

Yes, it is permissible, rather it is recommended to recite it an audible voice.

Bismillah in the 3rd or 4th Rak'as
Question :

Are we allowed to recite Bismillah loudly in the 3rd or 4th rak'as of prayers?

Answer :

Yes, it is permissible to recite the Bismillah loudly in the third and fourth rak'as.

Bismillah in the First Two Rak'as
Question :

In Dhuhr and Asr prayers, are we allowed to recite the Bismillah in the first two rak'as loudly?

Answer :

It is recommended to recite the Bismillah in a loud voice in the said case.

Al-Fatiha in the Tarteel Manner
Question :

Someone told me that I must pronounce Al-Fatiha in the prayer in the Tarteel manner. Is this true?

Answer :

Reciting in such a way is not obligatory.

Makharij
Question :

Is it obligatory to recite Sura Al-hamd and Sure- Ikhlas with Makharij

Answer :

It is obligatory to recite Al-Fatiha and a chapter after it, like Sura-Iklas based on the Arabic grammar, in addition to correct Arabic pronunciation and in the familiar sounds of the Arabic language.

Recitation of a New Revert
Question :

As a new revert, I have not memorized the recitations required for daily prayers. Is it allowed to read from a piece of paper until I can recite?

Answer :

Yes, the said is permissible.

A Mistake in Pronouncation
Question :

If one makes a mistake in pronouncing something during the prayer, may he carry on and ignore it? Or must he go back and correct it?

Answer :

He should return to recite it correctly and continue his recitation. However, if he realized the mistake when he entered the bowing or prostration, he cannot return, and he should continue with his prayer.

Making an Error in Recitation
Question :

If one offered prayer thinking he was doing the recitation correctly, but later found out he had been making an error, is it obligatory on him to redo all of those prayers?

Answer :

He does not need to repeat the prayers.