حَـٰفِظُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلصَّلَوَٰتِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ٱلْوُسْطَىٰ وَقُومُوا۟ لِلَّهِ قَـٰنِتِينَ 238
Translations
Maintain with care the [obligatory] prayers and [in particular] the middle [i.e., ʿaṣr] prayer and stand before Allāh, devoutly obedient.
Transliteration
Hafizu 'ala as-salawati wa as-salatu al-wusta wa qumu lillahi qanitin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the believers to safeguard and maintain all prayers, with particular emphasis on the middle prayer (as-salah al-wusta), while standing before Allah in full obedience and humility. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir interpret this as a directive to preserve the five daily prayers with excellence, with scholarly consensus that 'the middle prayer' refers to Asr, though some scholars mention Fajr. The command to stand 'qanitin' (in obedience/submissiveness) emphasizes the spiritual quality required during prayer—complete concentration and reverence before the Divine.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Madinah, this ayah is part of Surah Al-Baqarah's section establishing Islamic laws and obligations for the Muslim community. It comes within the broader context of instructions regarding prayer timing and conduct, emphasizing the centrality of Salah as the second pillar of Islam and a distinguishing practice of the Muslim ummah.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The most burdensome prayers for the hypocrites are the Fajr and Isha prayers, and if only they knew the rewards of these prayers, they would come to them even if they had to crawl' (Sahih Bukhari 644). Additionally, 'Guard the prayers, especially the middle prayer' is referenced in relation to this ayah's emphasis on As-Salah Al-Wusta (Sunan Abu Dawud, An-Nasa'i).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that prayer is not merely a ritual but a sacred trust requiring constant vigilance, punctuality, and sincere devotion. In today's fast-paced world, it reminds us to prioritize our relationship with Allah by establishing firm, focused prayers that serve as anchors for spiritual development and moral guidance.
Related Ayahs
أَمْ كُنتُمْ شُهَدَآءَ إِذْ حَضَرَ يَعْقُوبَ ٱلْمَوْتُ إِذْ قَالَ لِبَنِيهِ مَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِنۢ بَعْدِى قَالُوا۟ نَعْبُدُ إِلَـٰهَكَ وَإِلَـٰهَ ءَابَآئِكَ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمَ وَإِسْمَـٰعِيلَ وَإِسْحَـٰقَ إِلَـٰهًا وَٰحِدًا وَنَحْنُ لَهُۥ مُسْلِمُونَ
Or were you witnesses when death approached Jacob, when he said to his sons, "What will you worship after me?" They said, "We will worship your God and the God of your fathers, Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac - one God. And we are Muslims [in submission] to Him."
ٱلَّذِينَ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ يَعْرِفُونَهُۥ كَمَا يَعْرِفُونَ أَبْنَآءَهُمْ ۖ وَإِنَّ فَرِيقًا مِّنْهُمْ لَيَكْتُمُونَ ٱلْحَقَّ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ
Those to whom We gave the Scripture know him [i.e., Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ)] as they know their own sons. But indeed, a party of them conceal the truth while they know [it].
لَّا يُؤَاخِذُكُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِٱللَّغْوِ فِىٓ أَيْمَـٰنِكُمْ وَلَـٰكِن يُؤَاخِذُكُم بِمَا كَسَبَتْ قُلُوبُكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ حَلِيمٌ
Allāh does not impose blame upon you for what is unintentional in your oaths, but He imposes blame upon you for what your hearts have earned. And Allāh is Forgiving and Forbearing.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱدْخُلُوا۟ فِى ٱلسِّلْمِ كَآفَّةً وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ خُطُوَٰتِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ
O you who have believed, enter into Islām completely [and perfectly] and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.