سورة البقرة، الآية ٢٣٨
حَٰفِظُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلصَّلَوَٰتِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ٱلْوُسْطَىٰ وَقُومُوا۟ لِلَّهِ قَٰنِتِينَ ٢٣٨
ḥāfiẓū ʿalā l-ṣalawāti wal-ṣalati l-wus'ṭā waqūmū lillahi qānitīna
Maintain with care the [obligatory] prayers and [in particular] the middle [i.e., ʿaṣr] prayer and stand before Allāh, devoutly obedient.
Verse 238 of Surah Al-Baqarah (2:238), a Medinan surah, is in juz 2, on page 39 of the mushaf. Read it in Arabic with its transliteration, translations and tafsir, and listen to it recited by 69 reciters.
75 recitations by 69 reciters: pick one and it plays in the player.
Guard your prayers by fulfilling them completely as Allah has instructed. In particular, guard the middle prayer, which is the ‘aṣr (afternoon) prayer; and stand before Allah in submission and devotion.
Be mindful of the prayers131, especially the middle prayer; and stand before Allah in complete devotion132.
[131] The five obligatory daily Prayers.
[132] Prayers are mentioned in the midst of marital affair rulings, because of the hurtful feelings divorce can leave. Hence, people are reminded of the Hereafter, whereby they should not ‘overlook kindness’ among themselves by this reminder of accountability.
Guard strictly (five obligatory) As-Salawât (the prayers) especially the middle Salât (i.e. the best prayer - ‘Asr )62. And stand before Allâh with obedience [and do not speak to others during the Salât (prayers)].
[62] (V.2:238).
a) The sin of one who misses the ‘Asr prayer (intentionally):
"Narrated Ibn ‘Umar رضي الله عنهما: Allâh’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "Whoever misses the ‘Asr prayers (intentionally), then it is as if he lost his family and property." (Sahih Al-Bukhâri, Vol.1, Hadîth No. 527).
(b) One who omits (does not offer) the ‘Asr prayer (intentionally):*
Narrated Abu Al-Malîh: We were with Buraidah in a battle on a cloudy day and he said, "Offer the ‘Asr prayer early as the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "Whoever omits the ‘Asr prayer, all his (good) deeds will be lost." (Sahih Al-Bukhâri, Vol.1, Hadîth No.528).
* i.e. The one who omits (does not offer) the ‘Asr prayer intentionally until its stated time is over and if he prays after that time, then it is useless.
Be guardians of your prayers, and of the midmost prayer, and stand up with devotion to Allah.
Guard strictly your (habit of) prayers, especially the Middle Prayer; and stand before Allah in a devout (frame of mind).
Attend constantly to prayers and to the middle prayer and stand up truly obedient to Allah.
Preserve (constantly) (i.e., observe strictly) the prayers, and the middle prayer, and rise up devoutly to Allah.
كُنَّا لَنَتَكَلَّمُ فِي الصَّلاَةِ عَلَى عَهْدِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم، يُكَلِّمُ أَحَدُنَا صَاحِبَهُ بِحَاجَتِهِ حَتَّى نَزَلَتْ {حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ} الآيَةَ، فَأُمِرْنَا بِالسُّكُوتِ.
كُنَّا نَتَكَلَّمُ فِي الصَّلاَةِ يُكَلِّمُ أَحَدُنَا أَخَاهُ فِي حَاجَتِهِ حَتَّى نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ {حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلاَةِ الْوُسْطَى وَقُومُوا لِلَّهِ قَانِتِينَ} فَأُمِرْنَا…
Zayd ibn Arqam (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: We used to speak during the prayer; a man would talk with his companion at his side in the prayer until [this verse] was revealed: {...And stand before Allah in devout obedience} [Sūrat al-Baqarah: 238]. So we were commanded to keep silent…
كُنَّا نَتَكَلَّمُ فِي الصَّلاَةِ يُكَلِّمُ الرَّجُلُ صَاحِبَهُ وَهُوَ إِلَى جَنْبِهِ فِي الصَّلاَةِ حَتَّى نَزَلَتْ { وَقُومُوا لِلَّهِ قَانِتِينَ} فَأُمِرْنَا بِالسُّكُوتِ وَنُهِينَا عَنِ الْكَلاَمِ
إِذَا بَلَغْتَ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ فَآذِنِّي { حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلاَةِ الْوُسْطَى} فَلَمَّا بَلَغْتُهَا آذَنْتُهَا فَأَمْلَتْ عَلَىَّ حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلاَةِ الْوُسْطَى وَصَلاَةِ…
نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَصَلاَةِ الْعَصْرِ . فَقَرَأْنَاهَا مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ نَسَخَهَا اللَّهُ فَنَزَلَتْ { حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلاَةِ الْوُسْطَى}
إِذَا بَلَغْتَ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ فَآذِنِّي { حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلاَةِ الْوُسْطَى } فَلَمَّا بَلَغْتُهَا آذَنْتُهَا فَأَمْلَتْ عَلَىَّ { حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلاَةِ الْوُسْطَى وَصَلاَةِ…
وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ ٱلْـَٔايَٰتِ وَلِتَسْتَبِينَ سَبِيلُ ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ
And thus do We detail the verses, and [thus] the way of the criminals will become evident.
وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُرِىٓ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ مَلَكُوتَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَلِيَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُوقِنِينَ
And thus did We show Abraham the realm of the heavens and the earth that he would be among the certain [in faith].
مَّا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ أَبَآ أَحَدٍ مِّن رِّجَالِكُمْ وَلَٰكِن رَّسُولَ ٱللَّهِ وَخَاتَمَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمًا
Muḥammad is not the father of [any] one of your men, but [he is] the Messenger of Allāh and seal [i.e., last] of the prophets. And ever is Allāh, of all things, Knowing.
وَإِذَا كُنتَ فِيهِمْ فَأَقَمْتَ لَهُمُ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ فَلْتَقُمْ طَآئِفَةٌ مِّنْهُم مَّعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُوٓا۟ أَسْلِحَتَهُمْ فَإِذَا سَجَدُوا۟ فَلْيَكُونُوا۟ مِن وَرَآئِكُمْ وَلْتَأْتِ طَآئِفَةٌ أُخْرَىٰ لَمْ يُصَلُّوا۟ فَلْيُصَلُّوا۟ مَعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُوا۟ حِذْرَهُمْ وَأَسْلِحَتَهُمْ وَدَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَوْ تَغْفُلُونَ عَنْ أَسْلِحَتِكُمْ وَأَمْتِعَتِكُمْ فَيَمِيلُونَ عَلَيْكُم مَّيْلَةً وَٰحِدَةً وَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِن كَانَ بِكُمْ أَذًى مِّن مَّطَرٍ أَوْ كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰٓ أَن تَضَعُوٓا۟ أَسْلِحَتَكُمْ وَخُذُوا۟ حِذْرَكُمْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَعَدَّ لِلْكَٰفِرِينَ عَذَابًا مُّهِينًا …
And when you [i.e., the commander of an army] are among them and lead them in prayer, let a group of them stand [in prayer] with you and let them carry their arms. And when they have prostrated, let them be [in position] behind you and have the other group come forward which has not [yet] prayed and let them pray with you, taking precaution and carrying their arms. Those who disbelieve wish that you would neglect your weapons and your baggage so they could come down upon you in one [single] attack. But there is no blame upon you, if you are troubled by rain or are ill, for putting down your arms, but take precaution. Indeed, Allāh has prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment. …
