Muslim

Hadith Commentary:
From this hadith, it is established that by "Salat al-Wusta" (the middle prayer), the Asr prayer is meant.
Some people have taken certain other prayers to be intended by it as well.
However, the preferred (rajih) opinion is this one.
On this subject, the commentator has written a treatise,
the name of which is "Kashf al-Khata 'an Salat al-Wusta."

Hadith Commentary:
➊
What is meant by the "middle prayer" (salat al-wusta)? There is considerable difference of opinion among the scholars regarding this. Hafiz Ibn Hajar rahimahullah has mentioned nearly nineteen opinions concerning its specification and has stated: Hafiz Sharf al-Din Dimyati wrote a separate treatise on this subject entitled "Kashf al-Ghita’ ‘an al-Salat al-Wusta." (Fath al-Bari: 8/246)

➋
From the narration presented by Imam Bukhari rahimahullah, it is understood that what is meant is the Asr prayer, because it is the Asr prayer that is performed before sunset. In fact, in one narration it is explicitly stated that they kept us occupied from performing the middle prayer, that is, the Asr prayer. (Sahih Muslim, al-Masajid, Hadith 1426 (628)) Furthermore, from this narration, the importance of performing the prayer at its proper time is evident, to the extent that those who hinder timely performance may be subjected to rebuke and supplication against them.

➌
Imam Bukhari rahimahullah’s own inclination is also apparent—that the middle prayer refers to the Asr prayer. Thus, while commenting on Surah al-Rahman, he writes:
﴿فِيهِمَا فَاكِهَةٌ وَنَخْلٌ وَرُمَّانٌ﴾
Some scholars are of the opinion that pomegranate and date are not included among fruits (fakihah), but the Arabs do call them fakihah, as is evident from the statement of Allah, the Exalted: "Guard strictly the prayers, especially the middle prayer." In this verse, Allah, the Exalted, has commanded the safeguarding of all prayers, and then, due to its special importance, has mentioned the Asr prayer separately—just as after mentioning fruits, pomegranate and date are mentioned again. (Sahih Muslim, al-Tafsir, Tafsir of Surah al-Rahman) According to one narration, glad tidings of Paradise are given for performing this prayer. (Sahih Muslim, al-Masajid, Hadith 1438 (635))

Hadith Commentary:
➊
On the day of the Battle of Ahzab, when the Muslims were afflicted with severe hardship, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) supplicated against the polytheists, and his supplication was accepted, so they were defeated and fled.
He said:
"O Allah! Fill their houses with fire."
When a person's house catches fire, he becomes extremely agitated and deeply distressed.
With these words, defeat and stumbling have been established.
➋
Further on, in another hadith, it is explicitly mentioned that he supplicated with these words:
"O Allah! Defeat them and shake them thoroughly."
(Sahih al-Bukhari, al-Jihad, Hadith: 2933)

Hadith Commentary: The Asr prayer itself is the "middle prayer" (salat al-wusta). This prayer holds great distinction, in which many benefits and objectives are intended.

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
By "Salat al-Wusta" (the middle prayer) is meant the Asr prayer, as is evident from the incident when Umar al-Faruq radi Allahu anhu, on the day of the Battle of the Trench, began to reproach the disbelievers of Quraysh and said:
"O Messenger of Allah! I was not able to perform the Asr prayer until the sun had set."
The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam replied:
"By Allah! I too was not able to perform it."
Then we went to the valley of Bathan, and there, after sunset, we performed ablution (wudu), offered the Asr prayer first, and then performed the Maghrib prayer.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, al-Maghazi, Hadith: 4112)
(2)
Since this hadith mentions the supplication (bad-dua) of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam against the disbelievers of Quraysh, Imam al-Bukhari rahimahullah has mentioned it here for this reason.
Wallahu al-Musta‘an.

Hadith Footnote:
Vocabulary of the Hadith:
Ābat al-shams:
The sun returned to its place,
meaning it set.

409. Commentary:
➊ This hadith explains the noble verse: «حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلَاةِ الْوُسْطَى وَقُومُوا لِلَّهِ قَانِتِينَ» [البقره : 238]
“Guard strictly the prayers, especially the middle (or best) prayer, and stand before Allah with devotion.” It clarifies that in this verse, the “middle prayer” (salat al-wusta) refers to the ‘Asr prayer.
➋ The fact that such a severe supplication (against someone) was uttered by the merciful and compassionate Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) makes it clear that even missing a single prayer at its prescribed time is a great loss in the religion.

474. Commentary:
➊ It is evident that before sunset, it is indeed the Asr prayer. This is what the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) referred to as the "middle prayer" (salat al-wusta). In the narration of the two Sahihs (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim), this is explicitly stated.
➋ On the occasion of the Battle of Ahzab, that is, the Battle of the Trench, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) uttered these words. See: [صحیح البخاري ، المغازي ، حدیث : 4111 ، وصحیح مسلم ، المساجد ، حدیث : 627]

Commentary:
(1)
It is permissible to invoke a curse (bad-dua) upon someone who is deserving of it.

(2)
Religious loss is more significant than worldly loss.

(3)
The importance of the Asr prayer is greater than that of the other prayers.

(4)
This aspect of the incident is extremely noteworthy: that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), whom Allah the Exalted has called (Rahmatul-lil-'Alamin) [Mercy to the worlds], when he experienced the most severe day of his life—that is, when the Noble Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) went to Ta’if and the polytheists not only refused to listen to him and behaved with extreme insolence, but also set the children upon the Noble Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), who stoned him to such an extent that the blessed body of the Noble Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was covered in blood—even at that time, he refrained from invoking a curse upon them. But during the Battle of the Trench (Khandaq), when, due to preoccupation, the Asr prayer was missed, then from the very tongue that had remained silent in Ta’if, a curse was uttered. And such a severe curse: that may Allah cause fire to rain down upon their homes from the sky, and when they die, may they remain as fuel for fire in their graves as well.

Those people should reflect who, merely out of laziness, or due to being occupied with play and amusement, or because of business or any other engagement, abandon the prayer—how detestable and what a grave crime this act is in the sight of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).

May Allah protect us from His wrath.

Ameen.