Punctuality In Offering Prayers

LESSON # 284 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

Punctuality In Offering Prayers

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Verse – 238 & 239    of  286, Section – 31 (Part - 2)

238.  Be guardians of your prayers, and of the midmost prayer, and stand up with devotion to Allah. 239.  And if ye go in fear, then (pray) standing or on horseback. And when ye are again in safety, remember Allah, as He hath taught you that which (heretofore) ye knew not.

238.  Haafizuu  ‘alas-Salawaati  was-Salaatil-wustaa;  wa  quu-muu  lillaahi  qaanitiin. 239.  Fa-‘in  khiftum  fa-rijaalan  ‘aw  rukbaanaa.  Fa- ‘izaaa  ‘amin-tum  fazkurullaaha  kamaa  ‘alla-makum-maa  lam takuu-nuu  ta’-lamuun.

Lesson

Haafizuu  ‘alas-Salawaati – (Be guardians of your prayers), that is to say; regularize your prayers in time. The scholars have categorized three stages of prayer’s punctuality:

First stage – the prayers should be offered in time, without leaving duties and even obligations (Faraz and Waajib).

Second Stage – body of the person, who is going to offer prayer, should be clean and pure, humility and spiritless should be in his heart, he should care fully for the practices (sunnahs) of the Prophet Muhammad (grace, glory, blessings and peace of Allah Almighty be upon him) and mustahibbaat (good works).

Most Superior Stage – while offering the prayer he should deem that he is looking Allah Almighty and he would have this perception also that God Almighty is looking the devout.   

‘As-Salaatil-wustaa – (the midmost prayer), aim of this central middle prayer is the ‘Asr Prayer, which is offered between the afternoon (Zuhar) prayer and after sunset (Magrib) prayer. Some scholars consider it as the prayer before sunrise (Fajar prayer). 

qaanitiin – (to stand up) with devotion, this word has been derived from qanuut which means benediction, supplication, prayer, humility, begging, submission and obedience.

The rights and claims of the wives were being mentioned in the previous verses, and the same discussion will run again ahead. Some orders about prayer have come in the middle. It appears from this discussion that the matters regarding society and its affairs, rules and morality are not separate from the worship. The rights of God Almighty and the rights of His servants (human beings) are going side by side in the Divine Law.

Between the orders regarding divorce, it can also be the reason of mentioning the order about prayer that the mankind should not forget the worship of his Creator (Allah Almighty), while he is busy in the worldly matters and mutual disputes.  

It has been emphasized strongly about the midmost prayer (‘Asr), because the mankind remains busier in the worldly works at this time (after the afternoon). So attention is drawn to this side that “Do not forget God Almighty while you are engaged in the worldly matters. Moreover continue His mention and worship also”. Here some orders regarding prayers during peace and war have also been explained. If there is a time of battle and fear from enemy then you should offer prayer with signs only while either you are foot soldiers or you have conveyance (riding horse etc).

Transliteration in Roman Script & English Translation of Holy Qur’an written by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazar, Lahore and Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’an published By Idara Islah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated by Muhammad Sharif)