Toggle above to switch between keyword search and direct hadith lookup
موطا امام مالك رواية ابن القاسم
Muwatta Malik (Qasim)
Discussion on the Quran and Its Interpretation
Salat al-Wusta refers to Asr prayer
Hadith 575
اُردوEn
177- مالك عن زيد بن أسلم عن القعقاع بن حكيم عن أبى يونس مولى عائشة أنه قال: أمرتني عائشة أم المؤمنين أن أكتب لها مصحفا، ثم قالت: إذا بلغت هذه الآية فآذني {حافظوا على الصلاة والصلاة الوسطى}.قال: فلما بلغتها آذنذتها فأملت على {حافظوا على الصلاة والصلاة الوسطى وصلاة العصر وقوموا لله قانتين}.ثم قالت عائشة: سمعتها من رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم.
Abu Yunus, the freed slave of Aisha (Tabi'i), narrates that Umm al-Mu'minin Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) ordered me to write a mushaf (copy of the Qur'an) for her. Then she said: When you reach this verse «حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلَاةِ الْوُسْطَىٰ وَقُومُوا لِلَّـهِ قَانِتِينَ» "Guard strictly the prayers, and the middle prayer." [البقرة : 238], inform me. When I reached there, I informed her. She dictated to me: «حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ ، وَالصَّلَاةِ الْوُسْطَى ، وَصَلَاةِ الْعَصْرِ ، وَقُومُوا لِلَّهِ قَانِتِينَ» Then (Umm al-Mu'minin, may Allah be pleased with her) said: I heard it like this from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).
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
