The ruling on reciting surahs in addition to Al-Fatiha in the last two rak'ahs of prayer.
Chapter on the Description of Prayer
Al-Mughni
Book of Prayer
Primary text
It is not prescribed to add recitation beyond Surah Al-Fatiha in the last two rak'ahs of prayer. This is the consensus reported from Ibn Sirin, who stated that there is no known disagreement that in the first two rak'ahs, Al-Fatiha and a surah are recited, and in the latter two, only Al-Fatiha is recited. This view is supported by the practice of Ibn Mas'ud, Abu Ad-Darda', Jabir, Abu Hurairah, and Aisha. This is also the opinion of Malik and Abu Hanifa. The evidence for this includes the narration that Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq recited only Al-Fatiha in the last rak'ah of Maghrib prayer, followed by the supplication {Our Lord, let not our hearts deviate} [Quran 3:8]. Furthermore, Umar wrote to Shurayh instructing him to recite Al-Fatiha and a surah in the first two rak'ahs, and only Al-Fatiha in the latter two.
Supporting text
There is a differing opinion attributed to Al-Shafi'i, who sometimes held that a surah should be recited with Al-Fatiha in every rak'ah. This is also reported as the view of Ibn Umar. When Abu Bakr recited the verse in the last rak'ah, some interpret his action as supplication rather than recitation, and Imam Ahmad indicated that it is permissible for one to make such a supplication in the final rak'ah, as supplication within prayer, like in the Tashahhud, is not disliked.