Prayers - Regularity

 

Establishing prayers regularly (L-309)

حافِظوا عَلَى الصَّلَواتِ وَالصَّلاةِ الوُسطىٰ وَقوموا لِلَّهِ قانِتينَ238.  فَإِن خِفتُم فَرِجالًا أَو رُكبانًا ۖ فَإِذا أَمِنتُم فَاذكُرُوا اللَّهَ كَما عَلَّمَكُم ما لَم تَكونوا تَعلَمونَ239.

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.

238. Guard your prayers, and the middle prayer, and stand before God in devotion. 239. But if you are in fear, then on foot, or riding. And when you are safe, remember God, as He taught you what you did not know.

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

First stage – the prayers should be offered in time, without leaving Divine precepts and even obligations (Faraa-‘iz and Waajibaat).

Second Stage – the body of the individual, who is going to offer prayer, should be clean and pure. Humility and spiritless should be in his heart. He should care also for the practices (sunnahs) of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and mustahibbaat (good works).

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

‘As-Salaatil-wustaa – (the midmost prayer), the aim from this central prayer is the ‘Asr Prayer, which is offered between the afternoon (Zuhar) prayer and the 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 devotion, supplication, prayer, humility, begging, submission and obedience to God.

The rights and the duties regarding wives were being described in the previous verses, and the same discussion will run again in the succeeding verses. Some commands about the 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 and the rights of His servants (human beings) are going side by side in the Divine Law.

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

It has been emphasized strongly concerning the midmost prayer (‘Asr), because the mankind remains more earnestly diligent in worldly works at this time (after the afternoon). So attention is drawn to this side that, “Do not forget God while you are engaged in worldly matters. Moreover, continue His remembrance and worship also”. Here some commands regarding prayers during peace and war have also been explained. If there is a time of battle and fear of enemy then you should offer prayers with reduction only while either you are foot soldiers or have any conveyance (riding horse etc.) https://youtu.be/iWIxE7nYLcA