Prayer Times in the Quran
Allah, the Exalted, says, “And perform As-Salat
(Iqamat-as-Salat) at the two ends of the day and in some hours of the night
[i.e. the five compulsory Salat (prayers)]. Verily, the good deeds remove the
evil deeds (i.e., small sins). That is a reminder (a piece of advice) for the
mindful (those who accept advice)” (114) (Surat Hud). In this verse,
Allah, the Exalted, commands the establishment of prayer in its entirety “at the
two ends of the day,” meaning its beginning and end. This includes the Fajr
prayer and the Dhuhr and Asr prayers. “And in the first hours of the night”
(The night). This includes the Maghrib and Isha prayers, and it encompasses the
night prayer, for it is among the acts that draw the servant closer to Allah
(Al-Saadi's Interpretation).
And Allah Almighty says, “Perform As-Salat
(Iqamat-as-Salat) from midday till the darkness of the night (i.e., the Zuhr,
'Asr, Maghrib, and 'Isha' prayers), and recite the Quran in the early dawn
(i.e., the morning prayer). Verily, the recitation of the Quran in the early
dawn is ever witnessed (attended by the angels in charge of mankind of the day
and the night) (Surat Al-Isra). This noble verse means the following:
The time for prayer begins at the time of the sun's decline (i.e., noon) and
extends until the darkness of night. Between the sun's decline and the darkness
of night, there are four prayer times: noon, afternoon, sunset, and night. A
fifth time remains, which is the time for the dawn prayer, expressed by the
phrase "and the recitation of the dawn." The conjunction
"and" (wa) is used instead of the preposition "to" (ila).
It does not say, "to the recitation of the dawn." This is to clarify
that there is no time for an obligatory prayer between darkness and dawn, nor
between dawn and the sun's decline. Therefore, the time for prayer begins at
the time of the sun's decline (the noon prayer).
Similarly, these five prayer times are mentioned in the words
of Allah Almighty: "So glorify Allah [above all that (evil) they
associate with Him (O believers)], when you come up to the evening [i.e. offer
the (Maghrib) sunset and (Surat Isha) night prayers], and when you enter the
morning." (Surah Ar-Rum: 17) And in His words: "So
bear patiently (O Muhammad SAW) what they say, and glorify the praises of your
Lord before the rising of the sun, and before its setting, and during some of
the hours of the night, and at the sides of the day (an indication for the five
compulsory congregational prayers), that you may become pleased with the reward
which Allah shall give you" (Surat Ta-Ha: 130). And His saying,
“So bear with patience (O Muhammad SAW) all that they say, and glorify
the praises of your Lord before the rising of the sun and before (its) setting
(i.e., the Fajr, Zuhr, and 'Asr prayers)” (Surat Qaf: 39-40)
The Form of Prayer in the Quran
The prayer in its current form of standing, bowing, and
prostrating was known in the past, from the days of the Prophet Abraham, peace
be upon him. See the saying of Allah Almighty: "We commanded
Ibrahim (Abraham) and Isma'il (Ishmael) that they should purify My House (the
Ka'bah at Makkah) for those who are circumambulating it, or staying (I'tikaf),
or bowing or prostrating themselves (there, in prayer)" (Surat
Al-Baqarah 125); and His saying: Surat (Surat Al-Baqarah 43); and His saying: "O
Mary! Submit yourself with obedience to your Lord (Allah, by worshipping none
but Him Alone) and prostrate yourself, and Irka'i (bow down etc.) along with Ar-Raki'un
(those who bow down etc.)." (Surat Al Imran 43). Prayer in the
Quran includes the pillars of a single rak'ah in terms of standing, bowing, and
prostrating, in the words of Allah Almighty: "And those who spend
the night before their Lord, prostrate and standing" (Surat
Al-Furqan 64); and His saying, "Muhammad (SAW) is the Messenger of
Allah, and those who are with him are severe against disbelievers and merciful
among themselves." You see them bowing and falling down prostrate (in
prayer), seeking bounty from Allah and (His) good pleasure. (29)
(Surat Al-Fath).
The condition of purity for performing prayer is mentioned in
the words of Allah, the Exalted: “O you who believe! When you intend to
offer As-Salat (the prayer), wash your faces and your hands (forearms) up to
the elbows, rub (by passing wet hands over) your heads, and wash your feet up
to ankles. If you are in a state of Janaba (i.e., had a sexual discharge),
purify yourself (bathe your whole body). But if you are ill or on a journey, or
any of you come from answering the call of nature, or you have been in contact
with women (i.e., sexual intercourse), and you find no water, then perform
Tayammum with clean earth and rub therewith your faces and hands. Allah does
not want to place you in difficulty, but He wants to purify you and to complete
His favor on you that you may be thankful (Surat Al-Maidah:108).
And the prayer is specified as two rak'ahs as a minimum, as
Allah Almighty says: And when you (Muslims) travel in the land, there
is no sin on you if you shorten your Salat (prayer) if you fear that the
disbelievers may attack you; verily, the disbelievers are ever unto you open
enemies. 101 When you (O Messenger Muhammad SAW) are among them and lead them
in As-Salat (the prayer), let one party of them stand up [in Salat (prayer)]
with you, taking their arms with them; when they finish their prostrations, let
them take their positions in the rear, and let the other party come up, which
has not yet prayed, and let them pray with you, taking all the precautions and
bearing arms. Those who disbelieve wish, if you were negligent of your arms and
your baggage, to attack you in a single rush, but there is no sin on you if you
put away your arms because of the inconvenience of rain or because you are ill,
but take every precaution for yourselves. Verily, Allah has prepared a
humiliating torment for the disbelievers (Surat An-Nisa:101-102).
تعليقات