عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُصَلِّي الظُّهْرَ بِالْهَاجِرَةِ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ يُصَلِّي صَلَاةً أَشَدَّ عَلَى أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ مِنْهَا قَالَ فَنَزَلَتْ حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلَاةِ الْوُسْطَى [سورة البقرة: ٢٣٨] وَقَالَ إِنَّ قَبْلَهَا صَلَاتَيْنِ وَبَعْدَهَا صَلَاتَيْنِ
Sayyiduna Zaid bin Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to lead the Zuhr prayer at midday, and this prayer was the hardest upon the Companions. Then this verse was revealed: {حَافِظُوْا عَلَی الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلٰاۃِ الْوُسْطٰی} … Guard strictly the prayers, especially the best prayer. Then Sayyiduna Zaid bin Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Because there are two prayers before it and two prayers after it.