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Fatwa CenterExtending the recitation in the second Rak‘ah
Question
I regularly perform the prayers. Sometimes I recite a short Surah during the first Rak‘ah (unit of prayer) and then a long one during the second. Is this permissible?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
It is recommended to make the recitation of the first Rak‘ah longer than that of the second in accordance with the way the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, performed the prayer. Allaah Almighty says (what means): {There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allaah an excellent pattern.} [Quran 33: 21] In a Hadeeth, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Pray as you have seen me pray." [Al-Bukhari]
It was also narrated on the authority of Abu Qataadah Al-Ansari 
that he said:
"During the Thuhr (noon) prayer, the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to recite Al-Faatihah along with two other Surahs in the first two Rak‘ahs: a long one in the first Rak‘ah and a shorter one in the second, and he would make the verses audible at times. During the 'Asr (afternoon) prayer, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to recite Al-Faatihah and two other Surahs in the first two Rak‘ahs, and he would prolong the first Rak‘ah. He also used to prolong the first Rak‘ah of the Fajr (dawn) prayer and shorten the second." [Al-Bukhari]
Commenting on the Hadeeth, Ibn Hajar quoted Shaykh Taqyy Ad-Deen 
as saying: "The reason is that one is more active during the first Rak‘ah than during the second one; it is thus proper to shorten (the recitation) in the second one to avoid boredom…” until he said: “Some are of the opinion that it is recommended to make them equal. In such case, the reason behind lengthening the first Rak‘ah would be due to the opening supplication and the seeking of refuge from Satan. However, both Rak‘ahs are equal in recitation. This is supported by the Hadeeth narrated on the authority of Abu Sa‘eed which states that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to recite the equivalent of thirty verses in each of the first two Rak‘ahs of the Thuhr prayer." [Muslim]
This means that making the second Rak‘ah longer in recitation contradicts the Sunnah. However, the prayer is valid.
Allaah Knows best.
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