Tafsir of Surah Al Baqarah

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 الْوُسْطَى صَلَةِ الْعَصْرِ 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 الْوسْطَى صَلَةُ الْعَصْر

The Middle prayer is the Asr prayer.

In another narration, Allah's Messenger mentioned:

حَافِظُواْ عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ والصَّلَةِ الْوُسْطَى

(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 الْعَصْر

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 الْوسْطَى صَلَةُ الْعَصْر

The Middle prayer is the Asr prayer.

At-Tirmidhi reported that Ibn Mas`ud narrated that Allah's Messenger said:

صَلَةُ الْوسْطَى صَلَةُ الْعَصْر

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 الْوسْطَى صَلَةِ الْعَصْر

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:

مَنْ فَاتَتْهُ صَلَةُ الْعَصْرِ فَكَأَنَّمَا وُتِرَ أَهْلَهُ 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 يَوْمِ الْغَيْمِ فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ تَرَكَ صَلَةَ الْعَصْرِ فَقَدْ 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:

وَقُومُواْ 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 لَشُغْلً

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 يَصْلُحُ فِيهَا شَيْءٌ مِنْ كَلَمِ النَّاسِ إنَّمَا هِي التَّسْبِيحُ وَالتَّكْبِيرُ وَذِكْرُ 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:

وَقُومُواْ 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:

فَإنْ خِفْتُمْ فَرِجَالاً أَوْ رُكْبَانًا فَإِذَا أَمِنتُمْ فَاذْكُرُواْ اللّهَ كَمَا عَلَّمَكُم مَّا لَمْ تَكُونُواْ تَعْلَمُونَ