What is the ruling on reciting surahs in the order found in the Mushaf during prayer?

It is in accordance with the Sunnah to recite the verses and surahs in prayer following the order found in the Mushaf. After reciting a surah or verse, reciting a surah or verse that comes before it in the Mushaf is considered mildly disliked (tenzihen makruh). However, this does not invalidate the prayer or require the prostration of forgetfulness (sehiv secdesi). (Ibn Abidin, Reddü’l-muhtâr, 1/546) The order in question here is essentially a requirement of recitation (tilawah), not of the prayer itself. This is based on the view that the order of the surahs and verses was determined by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) through divine instruction (tevkîf), not by people. There is consensus among Islamic scholars that the order of verses within surahs is divinely ordained (tevkîfî). However, there is no consensus regarding whether the order between surahs is also divinely ordained. Therefore, different opinions have emerged regarding reciting surahs in order during prayer. In the Hanafi school, it is considered proper to observe the order both between verses and between surahs and to recite them accordingly. It is also noted that incidents such as the Prophet (peace be upon him) reciting Surah Nisa before Surah Al-i Imran in a night prayer occurred before the order between surahs was established. (Nawawi, Sharh Muslim, 6/61-62)

During recitation in prayer, skipping only one surah or verse when moving forward is also considered mildly disliked. If in the next rak'ah a surah from further ahead will be recited, it is preferable to skip at least two verses or two surahs.

Some scholars have stated that not observing the order is only mildly disliked in obligatory (fard) prayers and not disliked in voluntary (nafl) prayers. (Ibn Abidin, Reddü’l-muhtâr, 1/546) Those who hold the opposite view cite the following evidence: When the Prophet (peace be upon him) heard that Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) was skipping from one surah to another while praying, he told him, “Recite the surahs as they are (in order)” (Ibn Abi Shaybah, al-Musannaf, 2/264 [8818], 6/151 [30259]).

In conclusion, not observing the order of surahs and verses in prayer is mildly disliked (tenzihen makruh). This is not a deficiency that would invalidate the prayer or require it to be repeated.

Source: T.C. Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı, Din İşleri Yüksek Kurulu