Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
If someone recites the first the verses of Surat al-Qari`a, which are extremely short, would their prayer be invalid? What if this was done when making up a lot of missed prayers?
Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,
I pray that this finds you well, and in the best of health and spirits. May Allah grant you all good and success in this life and the next.
Given that the first three verses of Surat al-Qari`ah are three verses, they would fulfill the necessary (wajib) recitation). Also, the validity of one’s prayer is not dependent upon the fulfillment of a necessary (wajib) action.
The obligatory recitation that is a condition for the validity of prayer is simply to recite one verse in two rakats of the obligatory prayer. If this is done, one’s prayer is valid.
The necessary (wajib) recitation is to recite
(a) the Fatiha
(b) the extent of three verses of the Qur’an in two rakats of the obligatory prayer, and
(c) to make the above recitation in the first to rakats.
Please search SunniPath Answers (http://qa.sunnipath.com) for related answers on: (a) recitation in prayer; (b) leaving a wajib action.
And Allah alone gives success.
Faraz Rabbani