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صحيح مسلم
Muslim
كتاب المساجد ومواضع الصلاةThe Book of Mosques and Places of Prayer
باب الدَّلِيلِ لِمَنْ قَالَ الصَّلاَةُ الْوُسْطَى هِيَ صَلاَةُ الْعَصْرِ:Chapter: The evidence for those who say that “the middle prayer” is the `Asr prayer
وحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى التَّمِيمِيُّ ، قَالَ : قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكٍ ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ ، عَنْ الْقَعْقَاعِ بْنِ حَكِيمٍ ، عَنْ أَبِي يُونُسَ مَوْلَى عَائِشَةَ ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ : أَمَرَتْنِي عَائِشَةُ ، أَنْ أَكْتُبَ لَهَا مُصْحَفًا ، وَقَالَتْ : " إِذَا بَلَغْتَ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ ، فَآذِنِّي حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلاةِ الْوُسْطَى سورة البقرة آية 238 ، فَلَمَّا بَلَغْتُهَا ، آذَنْتُهَا فَأَمْلَتْ عَلَيَّ ، " 0 حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلَاةِ الْوُسْطَى وَصَلَاةِ الْعَصْرِ وَقُومُوا لِلَّهِ قَانِتِينَ 0 " ، قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ : سَمِعْتُهَا مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ .
Abu Yunus, the freed slave of 'A'isha said: 'A'isha ordered me to transcribe a copy of the Qur'an for her and said: When you reach this verse: "Guard the prayers and the middle prayer" (ii. 238), inform me; so when I reached it, I informed her and she gave me dictation (like this): Guard the prayers and the middle prayer and the afternoon prayer, and stand up truly obedient to Allah. 'A'isha said: This is how I have heard from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) .
Related hadith on this topic
Explanation & Benefits
Hafiz Zubair Ali Zai
Takhrij al-Hadith: [وأخرجه مسلم 629، من حديث ما لك به]
Jurisprudential Understanding:
➊ The words of the mentioned verse «وصلٰوة العصر» are not present in the existing Qur’an (the Uthmani codex). There could be two reasons for this:
First: The recitation of these words was abrogated during the lifetime of the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.
Second: This is an explanation of «والصلٰوة الوسطي» that by “middle prayer” (salat al-wusta) is meant the ‘Asr prayer, and this is the preferred view.
➋ There is much disagreement regarding the “middle prayer” (salat al-wusta). The preferred view is that it refers to the ‘Asr prayer.
➌ Observing veiling (hijab) from a slave is not necessary.
➍ The occurrence of abrogation (naskh) in the Qur’an during the time of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam is established as true. The recitation of some verses was abrogated, and the ruling of some was abrogated. The Qur’an which the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam left behind at the time of his passing is exactly what the Muslims possess today, and there is consensus (ijma‘) of the Muslims upon this. See [التمهيد278/4]
➎ In «وصلٰوة العصر», the “waw” is explanatory (waw tafsīriyyah), not a separator.
➏ In the noble verse, “guarding” means to perform the prayers at their prescribed times and in congregation.
➐ In light of the understanding of the pious predecessors (salaf salihin), explanations of the Qur’an and Hadith can be written and dictated.
Jurisprudential Understanding:
➊ The words of the mentioned verse «وصلٰوة العصر» are not present in the existing Qur’an (the Uthmani codex). There could be two reasons for this:
First: The recitation of these words was abrogated during the lifetime of the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.
Second: This is an explanation of «والصلٰوة الوسطي» that by “middle prayer” (salat al-wusta) is meant the ‘Asr prayer, and this is the preferred view.
➋ There is much disagreement regarding the “middle prayer” (salat al-wusta). The preferred view is that it refers to the ‘Asr prayer.
➌ Observing veiling (hijab) from a slave is not necessary.
➍ The occurrence of abrogation (naskh) in the Qur’an during the time of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam is established as true. The recitation of some verses was abrogated, and the ruling of some was abrogated. The Qur’an which the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam left behind at the time of his passing is exactly what the Muslims possess today, and there is consensus (ijma‘) of the Muslims upon this. See [التمهيد278/4]
➎ In «وصلٰوة العصر», the “waw” is explanatory (waw tafsīriyyah), not a separator.
➏ In the noble verse, “guarding” means to perform the prayers at their prescribed times and in congregation.
➐ In light of the understanding of the pious predecessors (salaf salihin), explanations of the Qur’an and Hadith can be written and dictated.
Source: Muwatta Imam Malik (Narration of Ibn al-Qasim): Commentary by Zubair Ali Zai, Page: 177
