(Q & A) Specific Times for Reciting Surah Al-Fatihah and the End of Surah Al-Baqarah?

Question There is a hadith that states, “The Angel said to our Prophet, 'Rejoice in two lights given to you which were not given to any prophet before you: Fatihatul Kitab (the Opening of the Book), which is Al-Fatihah, and the last verses of Surah Al-Baqarah. You shall not recite a single letter from either of them except that you will be given [the Light].'” What I want to ask is, when should we practice this?

Answer The wording of the hadith is:

وَقَالَ، "أَبْشِرْ بِنُورَيْنِ أُوتِيتَهُمَا لَمْ يُؤْتَهُمَا نَبِيٌّ قَبْلَكَ فَاتِحَةُ الْكِتَابِ، وَخَوَاتِيمُ سُورَةِ الْبَقَرَةِ، لَنْ تَقْرَأَ بِحَرْفٍ مِنْهُمَا إِلَّا أُعْطِيتَهُ"

“Rejoice in two lights given to you which were not given to any prophet before you: Fatihatul Kitab and the concluding verses of Surah Al-Baqarah. You shall not recite a single letter from either of them except that you will be given [the reward].” (HR. Muslim: 806 from Abdullah bin Abbas)

What is meant by the concluding (last) verses of Surah Al-Baqarah in that hadith are the last two verses of Surah Al-Baqarah, namely verses 285 and 286. That is why Imam An-Nawawi explained the benefit related to this hadith:

وَالْحَثِّ عَلَى قِرَاءَةِ الْآيَتَيْنِ مِنْ آخِرِ الْبَقَرَةِ

“And the motivation to read the two verses at the end of Surah Al-Baqarah.” (Sharh Sahih Muslim, 6/91)

Regarding its practice, Al-Fatihah, specifically, is certainly read in every unit of prayer (rak'ah) during salat. As for outside of prayer, it is permissible at any time as long as the intention is to read the Qur'an and gain the merits therein. The same applies to the last two verses of Surah Al-Baqarah. This is based on the general saying of the Prophet:

اقْرَءُوا الْقُرْآنَ فَإِنَّهُ يَأْتِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ شَفِيعًا لِأَصْحَابِهِ

“Recite the Qur’an, for it will come on the Day of Resurrection as an intercessor for its companions.” (HR. Muslim: 804 from Abu Umamah Al-Bahili)

And because reciting the Qur'an is part of the remembrance (dhikr) of Allah, and Aisha said concerning the Prophet's habit of remembrance:

كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَذْكُرُ اللهَ عَلَى كُلِّ أَحْيَانِهِ

“The Prophet sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam used to remember Allah in all his circumstances.” (HR. Muslim: 373) 

Aisha even narrated that the Messenger of Allah read the Qur'an without regard to time:

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ يَتَّكِئُ فِي حَجْرِي وَأَنَا حَائِضٌ، ثُمَّ يَقْرَأُ القُرْآنَ

“Indeed, the Prophet used to recline in my lap while I was menstruating, and then he would read the Qur'an.” (HR. Al-Bukhari: 297 and Muslim: 301).

The meaning is that the Messenger of Allah read the Qur'an while leaning or lying on Aisha's chest while she was menstruating. This shows the permissibility of reading the Qur'an at any time, whether reclining or not. This includes reading Al-Fatihah and the last two verses of Surah Al-Baqarah which have this special virtue.

As for the two concluding verses of Surah Al-Baqarah, besides being generally permissible to read at any time, there is also a specific time to read them: every night. The Messenger of Allah said:

لآيَتَانِ مِنْ آخِرِ سُورَةِ البَقَرَةِ، مَنْ قَرَأَهُمَا فِي لَيْلَةٍ كَفَتَاهُ

“The two verses from the end of Surah Al-Baqarah; whoever reads them in a night, they will suffice him (protect him from evil).” (HR. Al-Bukhari: 4008 and Muslim: 807 from Abdullah bin Mas’ud)

The time of night begins from the complete setting of the sun until the appearance of the true dawn (fajr shubuh), meaning from the entry of Maghrib time until the entry of Shubuh time. This is the range for specifically reciting the two concluding verses of Surah Al-Baqarah. This is based on the word of Allah:

ثُمَّ أَتِمُّوا الصِّيَامَ إِلَى اللَّيْلِ

“Then complete the fast until the night.” (QS. Al-Baqarah: 187).

Imam Ibn Kathir said, “This shows that the time for breaking the fast is when the sun sets according to the legal ruling.” (Tafsir Al-Quran Al-‘Azhim, 1/517). Imam Ibn Hubayrah said,

وَاتَّفَقُوا عَلَى أَنَّ وُجُوبَ الصَّوْمِ وَقْتُهُ مِنْ أَوَّلِ طُلُوعِ الْفَجْرِ الثَّانِي إِلَى غُرُوبِ الشَّمْسِ

“The scholars agreed that the time for the obligation of fasting starts from the beginning of the second dawn (true dawn) until the setting of the sun.” (Ikhtilaf Al-Aimmah Al-‘Ulama, 1/232). This indicates that the beginning of the night starts with the entry of Maghrib time, according to the consensus of the scholars.

The conclusion is that, specifically, it is recommended (sunnah) to read the last two verses of Surah Al-Baqarah every night. As for Al-Fatihah, it is legislated (obligatory) to be read in every rak'ah during salat. As for outside of prayer, there is no specific time if it is intended as an act of worship.

Wallahu a’lam (And Allah knows best).