Question:
If a person praying reads 2 or more surahs after Fatiha, should they read Bismillah? For example, he reads Surah Ikhlas, then Falaq. Should he read Bismillah before Falaq?
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer
Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem is considered to be an independent ayat of the Quran that was revealed for distinguishing between surahs. Hence, if someone praying reads two or more Surahs after Surah Fatiha, they should read the Bismillah between each Surah, e.g. after Surah Ikhlas he reads Surah Falaq, therefore he will read the Bismillah before Surah Falaq.
Raddul Muhtar: v. 2, p. 193 (Maktaba Imdadia)
Only Allah knows best
Written by Maulana Mohammad Ahsan Osmani
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham