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Ayah
Word by Word
حَٰفِظُواْ
Guard strictly
عَلَى
[on]
ٱلصَّلَوَٰتِ
the prayers
وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ
and the prayer
ٱلۡوُسۡطَىٰ
[the] middle
وَقُومُواْ
and stand up
لِلَّهِ
for Allah
قَٰنِتِينَ
devoutly obedient
حَٰفِظُواْ
Guard strictly
عَلَى
[on]
ٱلصَّلَوَٰتِ
the prayers
وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ
and the prayer
ٱلۡوُسۡطَىٰ
[the] middle
وَقُومُواْ
and stand up
لِلَّهِ
for Allah
قَٰنِتِينَ
devoutly obedient
Translation
Guard strictly your (habit of) prayers, especially the Middle Prayer; and stand before Allah in a devout (frame of mind).
Tafsir
Maintain the, five, prayers, by performing them at their appointed times, and the middle prayer, either that of the afternoon, or the morning, or the midday, or another prayer (there are many opinions on this matter); God has singled it out for mention because of its merit; and stand, in prayer, submissive to God, li Lllaahi qaaniteen: some have said that this means 'obedience', on account of the Prophet may peace and salutation be upon him saying, 'Wherever the [expression] qunoot ['submission'], appears in Al-Qur'an, it denotes obedience', as reported by Ahmad [ibn Hanbal] and others; it is also said to mean 'in silence' [saakiteen], on the basis of a hadeeth of Zayd ibn Arqam, in which he said, 'We used to speak to each other sometimes during prayer, but when this was revealed, we were commanded to be silent and were forbidden to talk', as reported by the two Shaykhs [Bukhaaree and Muslim].
"The Middle Prayer
Furthermore, Allah has specifically mentioned the Middle prayer, which is the Asr prayer according to the majority of the scholars among the Companions, as At-Tirmidhi and Al-Baghawi have stated.
Al-Qadi Al-Mawardi added that the majority of the scholars of the Tabi`in also held this view.
Al-Hafiz Abu Umar bin Abdul-Barr said that this is also the opinion of the majority of the scholars of the Athar (i.e., the Hadith and the statements of the Salaf).
In addition, Abu Muhammad bin Atiyah said that this is the Tafsir (of the Middle prayer) of the majority of scholars.
Al-Hafiz Abu Muhammad Abdul-Mu'min bin Khalaf Ad-Dumyati stated in his book on the Middle prayer that;
it is the Asr prayer and mentioned that this is the Tafsir of Umar, Ali, Ibn Mas`ud, Abu Ayyub, Abdullah bin Amr, Samurah bin Jundub, Abu Hurayrah, Abu Sa`id, Hafsah, Umm Habibah, Umm Salamah, Ibn Abbas and Aishah.
This is also the Tafsir of Ubaydah, Ibrahim An-Nakhai, Razin, Zirr bin Hubaysh, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Ibn Sirin, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak, Al-Kalbi, Muqatil, Ubayd bin Abu Maryam, and others.
The Proof that the `Asr Prayer is the Middle Prayer
Imam Ahmad reported that Ali narrated that Allah's Messenger said during the battle of Al-Ahzab (the Confederates):
شَغَلُونَا عَنِ الصَّلَةِ الۡوُسۡطَى صَلَةِ الۡعَصۡرِ مَلََ اللهُ قُلُوبَهُم وَبُيُوتَهم نَارًا
They (the disbelievers) busied us from performing the Middle prayer, the Asr prayer, may Allah fill their hearts and houses with fire.)
He performed the Asr prayer between Maghrib and Isha.
Muslim and An-Nasa'i recorded this Hadith.
In addition, the Two Sheikhs, Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi An-Nasa'i and several other collectors of the Sunan recorded this Hadith using different chains of narrators to Ali.
The Hadith about the battle of Al-Ahzab, when the Mushriks prevented Allah's Messenger and his Companions from performing the Asr prayer, has been narrated by several other Companions. We only mentioned the narrations that stated that the Middle prayer is the Asr prayer.
Furthermore, Muslim reported similar wordings for this Hadith from Ibn Mas`ud and Al-Bara bin Azib.
In addition, Imam Ahmad reported that Samurah bin Jundub said that Allah's Messenger said:
صَلَةُ الۡوسۡطَى صَلَةُ الۡعَصۡر
The Middle prayer is the Asr prayer.
In another narration, Allah's Messenger mentioned:
حَافِظُواۡ عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ والصَّلَةِ الۡوُسۡطَى
(Guard strictly (five obligatory) As-Salawat (the prayers) especially the Middle Salah) and stated that it is the `Asr prayer.
In another narration, Allah's Messenger said:
هِيَ الۡعَصۡر
It is the Asr prayer.
and Ibn Jafar mentioned that the Prophet was then being asked about the Middle prayer.
At-Tirmidhi reported this Hadith and said, ""Hasan, Sahih.""
In addition, Abu Hatim bin Hibban reported in his Sahih that;
Abdullah said that Allah's Messenger said:
صَلَةُ الۡوسۡطَى صَلَةُ الۡعَصۡر
The Middle prayer is the Asr prayer.
At-Tirmidhi reported that Ibn Mas`ud narrated that Allah's Messenger said:
صَلَةُ الۡوسۡطَى صَلَةُ الۡعَصۡر
The Asr prayer is the Middle prayer.
At-Tirmidhi then stated that this Hadith is of a Hasan Sahih type.
Muslim reported the Hadith in his Sahih and his wordings are:
شَغَلُونَا عَنِ الصَّلَةِ الۡوسۡطَى صَلَةِ الۡعَصۡر
They (disbelievers) busied us from performing the Middle prayer, the Asr prayer.
These texts emphasize the fact (that the Asr prayer is the Middle prayer).
What further proves this fact is that, in an authentic Hadith, Allah's Messenger emphasized the necessity of preserving the Asr prayer, when he said, as Ibn Umar narrated:
مَنۡ فَاتَتۡهُ صَلَةُ الۡعَصۡرِ فَكَأَنَّمَا وُتِرَ أَهۡلَهُ وَمَالَه
Whoever misses the Asr prayer will be like who has lost his family and money.
It is reported in the Sahih that Buraydah bin Al-Husayb said that the Prophet said:
بَكِّرُوا بِالصَّلَةِ فِي يَوۡمِ الۡغَيۡمِ فَإِنَّهُ مَنۡ تَرَكَ صَلَةَ الۡعَصۡرِ فَقَدۡ حَبِطَ عَمَلُه
On a cloudy day, perform the (Asr) prayer early, for whoever misses the Asr prayer, will have his (good) deeds annulled.
The Prohibition of speaking during the Prayer
Allah said:
وَقُومُواۡ لِلّهِ قَانِتِينَ
And stand before Allah with obedience.
meaning, with humbleness and humility before Him (i.e., during the prayer).
This command indicates that it is not allowed to speak during the prayer, as speaking contradicts the nature of the prayer. This is why the Prophet refused to answer Ibn Mas`ud when he greeted him while he was praying and said afterwards:
إِنَّ فِي الصَّلَةِ لَشُغۡلً
The prayer makes one sufficiently busy.
i.e., by the various actions of the body, tongue and heart involved during the prayer.
Muslim reported that the Prophet said to Muawiyah bin Hakam As-Sulami when he spoke during the prayer:
إِنَّ هذِهِ الصَّلَةَ لَا يَصۡلُحُ فِيهَا شَيۡءٌ مِنۡ كَلَمِ النَّاسِ إنَّمَا هِي التَّسۡبِيحُ وَالتَّكۡبِيرُ وَذِكۡرُ الله
The ordinary speech people indulge in is not appropriate during the prayer. The prayer involves only Tasbih (praising Allah), Takbir (saying Allahu Akbar, i.e., Allah is the Most Great) and remembering Allah.
Imam Ahmad reported that Zayd bin Arqam said,
""One used to address his friend about various affairs during the prayer. Then when this Ayah was revealed:
وَقُومُواۡ لِلّهِ قَانِتِينَ
(And stand before Allah with obedience), we were ordered to refrain from speaking.""
The Group (i.e., the Hadith collections), except Ibn Majah, reported this Hadith.
The Fear Prayer
Allah said:
فَإنۡ خِفۡتُمۡ فَرِجَالاً أَوۡ رُكۡبَانًا فَإِذَا أَمِنتُمۡ فَاذۡكُرُواۡ اللّهَ كَمَا عَلَّمَكُم مَّا لَمۡ تَكُونُواۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ
And if you fear (an enemy), (perform Salah) on foot or riding. And when you are in safety, then remember Allah (pray) in the manner He has taught you, which you knew not (before).
After Allah commanded His servants to perform the prayer perfectly and emphasized this commandment, He mentioned the situation where the person might not be able to perform the prayer perfectly, during battle and combat.
Allah said:
فَإنۡ خِفۡتُمۡ فَرِجَالاً أَوۡ رُكۡبَانًا
(And if you fear (an enemy), perform Salah on foot or riding),
meaning, pray in the appropriate manner under these circumstances, whether on foot or riding and whether facing the Qiblah or otherwise.
Imam Malik reported that Nafi related that Ibn Umar used to describe the Fear prayer when he was asked about it and would then add,
""If there is intense fear, pray on foot, riding, facing the Qiblah and otherwise.""
Nafi commented,
""I think that he related that to the Prophet.""
Al-Bukhari and Muslim reported the Hadith.
Muslim, Abu Dawud, An-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah and Ibn Jarir reported that Ibn Abbas said,
""Allah has ordained the prayer by the words of your Prophet:four (Rak`ah) while residing, two Rak`ah while traveling and one Rak`ah during times of fear.""
This is also the view of Al-Hasan Al-Basri, Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak, and others.
In addition, Al-Bukhari has entitled a Chapter:`Prayer while confronting the Forts and facing the Enemy'.
Al-Awza`i said,
""If the victory seems near and the Muslims are unable to perform the prayer (in the normal manner), they should pray by nodding each by himself. If they are unable to nod, they should delay the prayer until fighting is finished.
When they feel safe, they should pray two Rak`ah. If they are unable, they should then pray one Rak`ah that includes two prostrations.
If they are unable, then Takbir alone does not suffice, so they should delay the prayer until they are safe.""
This is the same view that Makhul held.
Anas bin Malik said,
""I participated in the attack on the fort of Tastar, when the light of dawn started to become clear. Suddenly, the fighting raged and the Muslims were unable to pray until the light of day spread. We then prayed (the Dawn prayer) with Abu Musa and we became victorious.
I would not have been pleased if I were to gain in the life of this world and whatever is in it instead of that prayer.""
This is the wording of Al-Bukhari.
Prayer during the Times of Peace is performed normally
Allah said:
فَإِذَا أَمِنتُمۡ فَاذۡكُرُواۡ اللّهَ
And when you are in safety, then remember Allah (pray),
meaning, `Perform the prayer as I have commanded you by completing its bowing, prostration, standing, sitting, and with the required attention (in the heart) and supplication.'
Allah said:
كَمَا عَلَّمَكُم مَّا لَمۡ تَكُونُواۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ
in the manner He has taught you, which you knew not (before).
meaning, just as He has endowed you, guided you and taught you about what benefits you in this life and the Hereafter, so thank and remember Him.
Similarly, Allah said after He mentioned the prayer of Fear,
فَإِذَا اطۡمَأۡنَنتُمۡ فَأَقِيمُواۡ الصَّلَوةَ إِنَّ الصَّلَوةَ كَانَتۡ عَلَى الۡمُوۡمِنِينَ كِتَـباً مَّوۡقُوتاً
but when you are free from danger, perform As-Salah. Verily, As-Salah (the prayer) is enjoined on the believers at fixed hours. (4:103)
We will mention the Hadiths about the prayer of Fear and its description in Surah An-Nisa while mentioning Allah's statement:
وَإِذَا كُنتَ فِيهِمۡ فَأَقَمۡتَ لَهُمُ الصَّلَوةَ
When you (O Messenger Muhammad) are among them, and lead them in As-Salah(the prayer). (4:102)"
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