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سنن نسائي
Nasai
كتاب المواقيتThe Book of the Times (of Prayer)
بَابُ : التَّشْدِيدِ فِي تَأْخِيرِ الْعَصْرِChapter: Stern Warning About Delaying Asr
Hadith 512
اُردوEn
أَخْبَرَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرِ بْنِ إِيَاسِ بْنِ مُقَاتِلِ بْنِ مُشَمْرِجِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ ، قال : حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ ، قال : حَدَّثَنَا الْعَلَاءُ ، أَنَّهُ دَخَلَ عَلَى أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ فِي دَارِهِ بِالْبَصْرَةِ حِينَ انْصَرَفَ مِنَ الظُّهْرِ وَدَارُهُ بِجَنْبِ الْمَسْجِدِ ، فَلَمَّا دَخَلْنَا عَلَيْهِ ، قَالَ : أَصَلَّيْتُمُ الْعَصْرَ ؟ قُلْنَا : لَا ، إِنَّمَا انْصَرَفْنَا السَّاعَةَ مِنَ الظُّهْرِ ، قَالَ : فَصَلُّوا الْعَصْرَ ، قَالَ : فَقُمْنَا فَصَلَّيْنَا فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفْنَا ، قَالَ : سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ، يَقُولُ : " تِلْكَ صَلَاةُ الْمُنَافِقِ ، جَلَسَ يَرْقُبُ صَلَاةَ الْعَصْرِ حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَتْ بَيْنَ قَرْنَيِ الشَّيْطَانِ قَامَ فَنَقَرَ أَرْبَعًا لَا يَذْكُرُ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِيهَا إِلَّا قَلِيلًا " .
‘Alaa says that when he returned after offering Zuhr, he went to Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) at his house in Basra, and his house was next to the mosque. So when we came to him, he asked: “Have you people offered Asr?” We said: “No, we have just returned after offering Zuhr.” So he said: “Then offer Asr.” We stood up and offered Asr. When we had finished, Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: ‘This is the prayer of the hypocrite: he sits waiting for Asr until, when the sun is between the two horns of Satan (i.e., near sunset), he stands and pecks out four (quick) units, and in it he remembers Allah only a little.’”
Related hadith on this topic
Explanation & Benefits
Hafiz Muhammad Ameen
512. Commentary:
➊ The meaning of the sun being between the two horns of Satan may also be that it is near setting; at that time, the worshippers of the sun perform their worship, which is a satanic act, and thus it has been described in the above words. Some scholars have taken it literally, that at the times of sunrise, sunset, and when the sun is at its zenith (directly overhead), Satan comes and stands near the sun in such a way that the sun is between his two horns, so that the worshippers of the sun also worship him. Perhaps for this reason, Muslims have been prohibited from performing prayer at these times. And Allah knows best.
➋ "He pecks four times (with his beak)." Since the sun is almost setting, he (the hypocrite) performs the prayer hastily. It appears as if a crow is pecking. He does not recite the prescribed remembrances and supplications of the prayer properly, because he has no inclination (towards the prayer); thus, some is recited, some is left out. Since there are four units (rak‘ahs), it is said "four pecks." Although there are eight prostrations (sujood) in them, due to performing them quickly, it is as if both together are equal to one peck.
➌ The prayer of a believer is adorned with tranquility, humility and submissiveness, and the prescribed remembrances.
➊ The meaning of the sun being between the two horns of Satan may also be that it is near setting; at that time, the worshippers of the sun perform their worship, which is a satanic act, and thus it has been described in the above words. Some scholars have taken it literally, that at the times of sunrise, sunset, and when the sun is at its zenith (directly overhead), Satan comes and stands near the sun in such a way that the sun is between his two horns, so that the worshippers of the sun also worship him. Perhaps for this reason, Muslims have been prohibited from performing prayer at these times. And Allah knows best.
➋ "He pecks four times (with his beak)." Since the sun is almost setting, he (the hypocrite) performs the prayer hastily. It appears as if a crow is pecking. He does not recite the prescribed remembrances and supplications of the prayer properly, because he has no inclination (towards the prayer); thus, some is recited, some is left out. Since there are four units (rak‘ahs), it is said "four pecks." Although there are eight prostrations (sujood) in them, due to performing them quickly, it is as if both together are equal to one peck.
➌ The prayer of a believer is adorned with tranquility, humility and submissiveness, and the prescribed remembrances.
Source: Sunan Nasa'i: Translation and Benefits by Shaykh Hafiz Muhammad Amin Hafizullah, Page: 512
Shaykh Maulana Abdul Aziz Alvi
Hadith Commentary: Benefits and Issues:
It is evident that the noble Companions (radi Allahu anhum) understood the command to wash the feet from the verse of Surah al-Ma'idah. If they had understood from this verse the command to wipe (masah) over the feet, then this hadith would not have been so greatly appreciated by them. If Jarir (radi Allahu anhu) had accepted Islam before the revelation of Surah al-Ma'idah, then the possibility could have arisen that the command of wiping (masah) had been abrogated by the verse of al-Ma'idah, which indicates washing. Therefore, according to all Ahl al-Sunnah, it is permissible to wipe (masah) over leather socks (khuffayn). Only the Shi'a and the Khawarij deny this. According to them, wiping (masah) over leather socks (khuffayn) is not permissible. According to the Khawarij, the feet must be washed, and according to the Shi'a, the feet must be wiped (masah).
It is evident that the noble Companions (radi Allahu anhum) understood the command to wash the feet from the verse of Surah al-Ma'idah. If they had understood from this verse the command to wipe (masah) over the feet, then this hadith would not have been so greatly appreciated by them. If Jarir (radi Allahu anhu) had accepted Islam before the revelation of Surah al-Ma'idah, then the possibility could have arisen that the command of wiping (masah) had been abrogated by the verse of al-Ma'idah, which indicates washing. Therefore, according to all Ahl al-Sunnah, it is permissible to wipe (masah) over leather socks (khuffayn). Only the Shi'a and the Khawarij deny this. According to them, wiping (masah) over leather socks (khuffayn) is not permissible. According to the Khawarij, the feet must be washed, and according to the Shi'a, the feet must be wiped (masah).
Source: Tuhfat al-Muslim: Commentary on Sahih Muslim, Page: 622
Shaykh Umar Farooq Saeedi
413. Commentary:
➊ This hadith is, in a way, an explanation of the first hadith: that if someone is delayed due to a valid (shar‘i) excuse and manages to perform one rak‘ah before sunset, it is as if he has caught the prayer within its time. This is a special mercy from Allah, the Exalted, for His servants. However, if one delays without an excuse, this is a sign of hypocrisy.
➋ There is a difference of opinion regarding the meaning of “the sun being between the two horns of Satan.” Imam Nawawi rahimahullah says: “It is said that this is a reality, and at the time of sunrise and sunset, Satan comes in front of the sun, so it appears as if the sun is rising or setting from between his head. And the worshippers of the sun also prostrate before it at these times, so he thinks that prostration is being made to him. It is also said that the two horns refer metaphorically to the elevation of Satan and the dominance of satanic forces, and that the disbelievers prostrate to the sun at the times of sunrise and sunset . . . . . .” End quote «والله أعلم»
➌ Exceptional cases should not be made into a rule or general principle.
➊ This hadith is, in a way, an explanation of the first hadith: that if someone is delayed due to a valid (shar‘i) excuse and manages to perform one rak‘ah before sunset, it is as if he has caught the prayer within its time. This is a special mercy from Allah, the Exalted, for His servants. However, if one delays without an excuse, this is a sign of hypocrisy.
➋ There is a difference of opinion regarding the meaning of “the sun being between the two horns of Satan.” Imam Nawawi rahimahullah says: “It is said that this is a reality, and at the time of sunrise and sunset, Satan comes in front of the sun, so it appears as if the sun is rising or setting from between his head. And the worshippers of the sun also prostrate before it at these times, so he thinks that prostration is being made to him. It is also said that the two horns refer metaphorically to the elevation of Satan and the dominance of satanic forces, and that the disbelievers prostrate to the sun at the times of sunrise and sunset . . . . . .” End quote «والله أعلم»
➌ Exceptional cases should not be made into a rule or general principle.
Source: Sunan Abu Dawood – Commentary by Shaykh Umar Farooq Saeedi, Page: 413
