Abu Dawud

414. Commentary:
➊ If the root of the word «وُتِرَ» is "watr" (with a fatḥa on the wāw), then its meaning is "deficiency," and what follows it can be read in both the accusative or nominative case. And if it is understood as "witr" (with a kasra on the wāw), then it also comes in the meaning of "crime and transgression." [النهايه ابن اثير]
Imam Khattabi rahimahullah has said that the meaning of "watr" is "diminished" or "taken away," thus the person is left alone without family and wealth. Therefore, a Muslim should avoid missing the 'Asr prayer just as he fears the loss of his family and wealth.
➋ Imam Tirmidhi rahimahullah has recorded this hadith under the chapter of «باب ماجاء فى السهو عن وقت صلاة العصر». By this, he means that if a person delays the 'Asr prayer even out of forgetfulness, he is in immense and countless loss and deprivation, let alone if he is deliberately negligent.

Hadith Commentary:
From the chapter heading established by Imam Bukhari rahimahullah, it is evident that missing the Asr prayer is a cause of sin, but it is an involuntary act, and sin should not be attributed to an involuntary action.

The answer is that although the missing (fawat) occurred involuntarily, the causes due to which negligence happened were indeed voluntary.

Generally, the missing of prayer occurs due to business engagements and preoccupation with family and dependents; this is also what is mentioned in the hadith.

Imam Bukhari rahimahullah’s intent is that, even though it is involuntary, this matter is not trivial such that negligence regarding it should be tolerated. What happened was not just the missing of Asr prayer, but it was as if everything was lost.

Asr prayer is mentioned specifically because, firstly, its importance and distinction have been clearly stated in the Qur’an , and then the previous communities also showed negligence regarding the Asr prayer. Therefore, we have been warned that special care should be taken regarding its performance. Thus, it is mentioned in the hadith that Asr prayer was also made obligatory upon those before you, but due to their ease-seeking, they did not fulfill its right. Therefore, whoever among you takes extraordinary care in its performance will be given double reward by Allah.

(Musnad Ahmad: 397/6)

Imam Tirmidhi rahimahullah has interpreted the content of the aforementioned hadith as referring to forgetfulness and inadvertence (sahw wa nisyan). Accordingly, he has titled the hadith as follows:

“The explanation of forgetfulness regarding the Asr prayer.”

Hafiz Ibn Hajar rahimahullah has clarified that when, in the Hereafter, reward will be given for the care taken in performing the Asr prayer, then the person who fell into forgetfulness or inadvertence regarding it will feel such regret, as if his family, wealth, and possessions have been destroyed.

(Fath al-Bari: 42/2)

Thus, Imam Bukhari rahimahullah has described the regret and loss of the Hereafter as “sin.”

And Allah knows best.

Hadith Commentary:
Vocabulary of the Hadith:
(1)
وُتِرَ أَهلُهُ وَمَالُهُ:
Both accusative (nasb, zabar) and nominative (raf‘, pesh) cases can be used on the words "ahl" (family) and "maal" (wealth).
Most of the scholars consider "ahl" and "maal" as the second object (maf‘ool thani), because the verb "watar" takes two objects, as in the Qur’an: ﴿لَن يَّتِرَكُمْ أَعْمَالَكُمْ﴾ (, Surah Muhammad: 35).
The meaning would be "to deprive," i.e., his family and wealth have been taken away from him. And according to Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr rahimahullah, the deprivation is such that it necessitates seeking compensation and revenge.
Thus, he is afflicted with double grief: deprivation of family and wealth, and the anxiety and search for means to take revenge and compensation.
And if "ahl" and "maal" are considered as the agent (na’ib fa‘il) and read in the nominative, the meaning would be: his family and wealth have been destroyed and ruined.

(2)
تَفُوتُهُ العَصرُ:
The scholars have taken various meanings for the missing of the ‘Asr prayer:
(1)
The time of ‘Asr has passed.
(2)
The color of the sun has changed.
(3)
The preferred time (waqt mukhtar) has passed.
(4)
He missed the congregation (jama‘ah) of ‘Asr.
The specification of the ‘Asr prayer is because this is the time of business and buying and selling, and a person, giving preference to worldly affairs, shows laziness regarding this prayer, and he does this for the sake of his family and dependents.
Therefore, it is said that the very ones for whom he is acting in this way, in reality, he is being deprived of the goodness and blessings of both.

513. Commentary: For benefits, see Sunan an-Nasa'i, Hadith: 479.

Commentary: 1.
In the eyes of a worldly person, there can be no greater loss than for his wife, children, and relatives all to perish at once, his livestock to die, his houses and buildings to be razed to the ground, his wealth and money to be looted, for him to be left without a home or shelter, and to become utterly destitute. But in the view of the Noble Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), even such a great loss cannot compare to the loss incurred by missing a single prayer. Whoever, by following the commands of the lower self (nafs al-ammarah) and being deceived by Satan, misses even just the ‘Asr prayer once, his loss is similarly irreparable.

2.
The importance of the ‘Asr prayer is greater than that of the other prayers; this is why the Noble Qur’an has specifically mentioned this prayer. The reason for this is that this time is one of business and worldly preoccupations, and for a small worldly benefit, a person forgets Allah. But even the greatest profit of this world cannot compensate for this loss, because the benefit is of this world, while the loss is of the Hereafter. And all the treasures and blessings of this world do not hold even the worth of a mosquito’s wing in the sight of Allah. The Prophetic statement is:
“If the world were worth even the wing of a mosquito in the sight of Allah, He would not give a disbeliever even a sip of water from it.”
(Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi, al-Zuhd, Chapter: What has come regarding the insignificance of the world to Allah, Hadith: 2320)

(3)
The meaning of missing the prayer can also be that the prayer was not performed at its prescribed time, even if it was offered later. In this case, its loss is like the one described above. Whoever abandons it completely, his loss is even greater than this.

(4)
These are also among the meanings given to the final words of the narration: as if that person, along with his family and wealth, has been utterly ruined and destroyed.

Benefit:

There is great emphasis on the ‘Asr prayer in the Qur’an and Hadith. Thus, Allah’s command is:

«حَافِظُوا علَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلاة الوسطى» [البقرة 238: 2]

“Guard strictly all the prayers, especially the middle prayer (‘Asr prayer).”

The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said:

«مَنْ تَرَكَ صَلَاةَ الْعَصْرِ فَقَدْ حَبِطَ عَمَلُهُ»

“Whoever leaves the ‘Asr prayer, his deeds are nullified.” [صحيح بخاري: 553]

Although the complete time for the ‘Asr prayer remains until sunset, it should be performed before the sun turns yellow. If there is a necessity, that is another matter. The statement of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam is:

«تِلكَ صَلاةُ المُنَافِقِ يَجْلِسُ يَرْقُبُ الشَّمْسَ»

“This is the prayer of the hypocrite: he sits and waits for the sun, watching it until, when it becomes yellow and is between the two horns of Satan, he stands and pecks out four (quick) units, and he does not remember Allah in it except a little.” [صحيح مسلم: 622]

In the narration of Muwatta’ where the loss of home and wealth is mentioned, there are various meanings: for example, abandoning the ‘Asr prayer causes such a great loss as if one’s home and wealth were plundered; or, in this world or the Hereafter, he will be afflicted with grief as great as that of losing home and wealth. Also, one of the consequences of not performing the ‘Asr prayer is that neither the wife and children remain under a person’s control, nor is there any blessing in his wealth. [والله اعلم]

Takhrij al-Hadith: [وأخرجه البخاري 552، و مسلم 626، من حديث مالك به]
Jurisprudential Explanation:
➊ One must be diligent in performing all prayers, but there is especially strong emphasis regarding certain prayers, such as the ‘Asr prayer.
➋ The one who abandons prayer is so unfortunate, destitute, and impoverished that all his wealth, possessions, and household have been destroyed, yet he remains unaware.
➌ All prayers should be performed at their earliest time and in congregation, and special care should be taken to perform the ‘Asr prayer at its earliest time and in congregation.
➍ The time for the ‘Asr prayer begins when the shadow of an object is equal to its length. See: [سنن الترمذي 149، وقال: حديث حسن و صححه ابن خزيمه : 353 و ابن حبان 279 و ابن الجارود: 149، والحاكم 193/1 وغيرهم]
Therefore, to avoid missing it, one should perform ‘Asr at its earliest time. Performing prayer at its earliest time is the best deed.
➎ It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Hadidah al-Ansari radi Allahu anhu that he was going for the ‘Asr prayer when he met ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab radi Allahu anhu at the place of Zawra. ‘Umar asked, “Where are you going?” He replied, “For prayer.” ‘Umar said, “You are late, hurry up.” Ibn Hadidah said: I went and prayed in the mosque, then returned and saw that my slave-girl, who had gone to fetch water, had delayed. I went to her at the well of Rumah, and when I returned, the sun was still high, i.e., elevated. [الاستذكار 66/1 ح 20 وسنده صحيح]
It is evident from this that Sayyiduna ‘Umar radi Allahu anhu was an adherent and practitioner of performing the ‘Asr prayer at its earliest time.
For further jurisprudential benefits, see: [ماهنامه الحديث : 25 ص 65 اور هدية المسلمين: 7]
➐ Sayyiduna Ibn ‘Umar radi Allahu anhu once fainted so severely that he was not conscious, and then he did not make up the missed prayer (qada). [الموطا 13/1 ح 23 وسنده صحيح]
Imam Malik rahimahullah said: Our opinion is that the time for the prayer had ended, which is why he did not make it up, and if he had regained consciousness during the time, he would have prayed. [الموطأ ايضاً ترقيم الاستذكار: 23]
The preferred opinion is that in such a situation, the missed prayer should be made up (qada).