Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 238

(Ayah238) ➊ {حٰفِظُوْا عَلَى الصَّلَوٰتِ وَ الصَّلٰوةِ الْوُسْطٰى:} Shah Abdul Qadir (may Allah have mercy on him) says: "The middle prayer is Asr, as it is between day and night, and its observance has been emphasized more. In the rulings of divorce, the mention of prayer has been made so that, being absorbed in worldly affairs, you do not forget worship. The command to observe Asr more strictly is because worldly occupations are greater at that time." (Mawdhih)

➋ By protection is meant to be mindful of the time. Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that I asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): "Which deed is most beloved to Allah among all deeds?" He said: "Prayer at its proper time." [بخاری، الصلاۃ، باب فضل الصلوۃ لوقتہا : ۵۲۷]

➌ {وَ الصَّلٰوةِ الْوُسْطٰى :} There is indeed a difference of opinion about this, but according to the majority of scholars, what is meant by it is the Asr prayer. This is the authentic and preferred view, and it is supported by numerous hadiths. In the books of Bukhari, Muslim, and Sunan, it is narrated from several companions that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said on the occasion of the Battle of Ahzab: [شَغَلُوْنَا عَنِ الصَّلاَۃِ الْوُسْطٰی صَلاَۃِ الْعَصْرِ مَلَأَ اللّٰہُ بُیُوْتَہُمْ وَ قُبُوْرَہُمْ نَارًا] [ مسلم، المساجد، باب الدلیل لمن … : 627/205۔ بخاری : ۶۳۹۶] "They kept us from Salat al-Wusta, that is, the Asr prayer. May Allah fill their houses and graves with fire." This is also supported by the reports of many companions.

Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever misses the Asr prayer, it is as if his family and wealth have been taken away from him." [ بخاری، مواقیت الصلوۃ، باب إثم من فاتتہ العصر : ۵۵۲۔ مسلم : ۶۲۶]

➍ {قٰنِتِيْنَ:} Stand obediently, meaning do not make any such movement in prayer that would indicate a person is not in the state of prayer, such as eating, drinking, or talking to someone. In the Arabic language, "qunut" has several meanings, but here it means silence. Zaid bin Arqam (may Allah be pleased with him) says: "We used to talk to each other in prayer; anyone would speak to his brother (who was in prayer) for any need, until this verse was revealed: «حٰفِظُوْا عَلَى الصَّلَوٰتِ وَ الصَّلٰوةِ الْوُسْطٰى وَ قُوْمُوْا لِلّٰهِ قٰنِتِيْنَ» Then we were commanded to remain silent (in prayer) and forbidden from talking." [ بخاری، التفسیر، باب «و قوموا للہ …» : ۴۵۳۴۔ مسلم، المساجد، باب تحریم الکلام … : ۵۳۹]

238. 1. By the middle prayer is meant the Asr prayer, which has been specified by the hadith of the Messenger ﷺ, in which he ﷺ, on the day of the Trench, declared the Asr prayer to be the Salat al-Wusta. (Sahih Bukhari, Kitab al-Jihad)

238. Guard your prayers, especially the middle prayer [332][333], and stand before Allah with devotion [334].

[332] Among the family matters, the two verses that emphasize prayer have likely the wisdom that the piety required to successfully handle such social issues is effectively fostered by prayer. That is why the safeguarding of prayers is being emphasized, meaning that every prayer should be performed at its appointed time and with all its conditions and etiquettes fulfilled.
[333]
By "middle prayer" is meant the Asr prayer, and its further emphasis:

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said on the day of the Trench: "These disbelievers did not let me perform the middle prayer until the sun had set. May Allah fill their graves and homes with fire." [بخاري، كتاب التفسير] It is also narrated from Hazrat Ibn Abbas ؓ and Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas'ud ؓ that the Prophet ﷺ said: "The middle prayer is the Asr prayer." [ترمذي۔ ابواب التفسير]
And Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar ؓ says that the Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever misses the Asr prayer, it is as if his family, wealth, and possessions have all been lost." [بخاري، كتاب مواقيت الصلٰوة، باب إثم من فاتته العصر] The particular emphasis on this prayer is because, in terms of worldly engagements, this time is very important.
[334]
The command to stand with respect in prayer:

That is, one should stand before Allah with humility and respect. Also, no unnecessary action should be done that is against respect or that invalidates the prayer, such as moving the hands unnecessarily or habitually, shaking them, laughing, or talking, etc. It is narrated from Hazrat Zaid bin Arqam ؓ that we used to talk during prayer. Then this verse was revealed. [بخاري، كتاب التفسير۔ زير آيت مذكوره] In the narration of Muslim, it is added that after this verse was revealed, we were commanded to stand quietly and calmly and were forbidden from talking. [مسلم، كتاب المساجد۔ باب تحريم الكلام فى الصلوة]
2. Hazrat Jabir bin Samurah ؓ says that when we prayed with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, at the end of the prayer we would say "Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah" to the right and left, and also gesture with our hands. Seeing this, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "You gesture with your hands as the tails of mischievous horses move. It is sufficient for you to place your hands on your thighs in the sitting position and turn your face to the right and left, saying 'Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah.'" [مسلم: كتاب الصلٰوة، باب الأمر بالسكون فى الصلوة والنهي عن الاشارة باليد.....]

The command to straighten the rows and stand together:

Hazrat Jabir ؓ says that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to us and said: "I see you raising your hands as the tails of mischievous horses move. Do not make any movement in prayer." Then, once seeing people forming a circle, he said: "Why are you separate?" Then, on another occasion, he said: "Form rows as the angels stand in rows in the presence of Allah. First, complete the front row, and stand closely together in the row." [مسلم حواله ايضاً] However, there are some actions that can be performed even during prayer, such as:
1. If the Imam forgets, the follower can say "Subhan Allah," and if the follower is a woman, she can clap. [بخاري۔ تصفيق النساء]
2. If the Imam forgets during recitation, the follower can prompt him, i.e., give a cue.

Which actions are permissible or necessary during prayer:

Once, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ went to reconcile the people of Banu Amr bin Auf. The time for Zuhr arrived, so Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq ؓ began to lead the prayer. Meanwhile, the Prophet ﷺ also arrived and, passing through the rows, stood in the first row. The companions ؓ clapped, which made Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq ؓ aware, and he looked back to see the Prophet ﷺ standing in the first row. The Prophet ﷺ gestured to Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq ؓ to continue leading the prayer, but Abu Bakr Siddiq ؓ raised both hands and thanked Allah, then stepped back in reverse, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ moved forward and led the prayer. After the prayer, he said that clapping is for women, men should say "Subhan Allah." [بخاري]
4. If the ground is hot due to heat, the worshipper can spread a cloth at the place of prostration. [بخاري حواله ايضاً]
5. Hazrat Aisha ؓ says that at night, when the Prophet ﷺ would pray and I would be lying with my legs extended, at the time of prostration he would touch me, and I would draw up my legs. When he stood up, I would extend my legs again. [بخاري۔ حواله ايضاً]
6. Once, Hazrat Ibn Abbas ؓ stayed the night at his maternal aunt, Ummul Momineen Maimunah ؓ. It was the Prophet’s ﷺ turn to stay there. He ﷺ got up at midnight, performed ablution, and stood in prayer. Seeing this, Hazrat Ibn Abbas ؓ also performed ablution and joined him in prayer, standing on his left. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ placed his hand on Ibn Abbas’s ؓ head, then twisted his right ear, then took him from behind and made him stand on his right side. [بخاري، كتاب الاذان، باب اذا قام الرجل عن يسار الامام۔۔۔ الخ]
7. If, during a voluntary prayer, the mother or father calls, one should break the prayer and listen to them. [تفصيل كے ليے ديكهئے سورة انفال كي آيت نمبر 24 كا حاشيه]
8. Azraq bin Qais says that we were engaged in battle with the Khawarij in Ahwaz when a companion, Abu Barzah Aslami, began to pray holding the reins of his horse in his hand. The horse began to pull the reins, and Abu Barzah also kept moving backward with it. Seeing this, a Kharijite said: "O Allah, ruin this old man." When Abu Barzah finished the prayer, he said to that Kharijite: "I heard what you said. I have participated in seven or eight campaigns with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and I saw that he would make things easy for people. I found it better to take my horse with me than to leave it to go wherever and put myself in trouble." [بخاري، حواله ايضاً]
9.
An Example of Ease in Religion:

Hazrat Anas bin Malik ؓ says that the Prophet ﷺ said: "I begin the prayer intending to make it long, but then I hear the cry of a child, so I shorten the prayer, because I know how much the mother is distressed by her child's crying." [بخاري، كتاب الاذان۔ باب من اخف الصلوة عند بكاء الصبي]
10. Hazrat Abu Qatadah ؓ says that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to us carrying his granddaughter Umamah bint Abi Al-As (daughter of Hazrat Zainab) on his shoulder. He ﷺ began to pray; when he bowed, he would put Umamah down on the ground, and when he stood up after prostration, he would lift her onto his shoulder. [ بخاري: كتاب الادب، باب رحمه الولد و تقبيله و معانقة]
And in another narration, the word "prostration" is mentioned instead of "bowing." [ بخاري: كتاب الصلوة، باب حمل جارية صغيرة على عنقه فى الصلوة]