Answered by Shaykh Hamza Karamali, SunniPath Academy Teacher
Is it permissible to recite Surah al Ikhlas (Qul huwallahu ahad…) in the first raka’a and then Surah al Kawthar (Inna a’tayna kal kawthar…) in the second raka’a, as kawthar is before ikhlas in the Quran?
Answer:
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate
It is disliked (makruh) to recite suras during prayer in an order that differs from the order in which they appear in the Qur’an (Tuhfat al-Muhtaj). As such, doing what you describe in the question is disliked, but not forbidden, and your prayer is valid.
And Allah knows best.
Hamza.