Monthly Archives: September 2011
‘Asr: Beautiful Rewards (Ahadith 529-533)
Salam,
Bismillah.
Volume 1, Book 10, Number 529:
Narrated Qais:
Jarir said, “We were with the Prophet and he looked at the moon–full-moon–and said, ‘Certainly you will see your Lord as you see this moon and you will have no trouble in seeing Him. So if you can avoid missing (through sleep or business, etc.) a prayer before the sun-rise (Fajr) and a prayer before sunset (‘Asr), you must do so.’ He then recited Allah’s Statement:
And celebrate the praises Of your Lord before The rising of the sun And before (its) setting.” (50.39) Isma’il said, “Offer those prayers and do not miss them.”
This Hadith is just so beautiful. The ultimate reward for a believer is seeing Allah (SWT). Why let anything come in the way of your goal? Pray ‘Asr (and Fajr) regularly!
Volume 1, Book 10, Number 530:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah’s Apostle said, “Angels come to you in succession by night and day and all of them get together at the time of the Fajr and ‘Asr prayers. Those who have passed the night with you (or stayed with you) ascend (to the Heaven) and Allah asks them, though He knows everything about you, well, “In what state did you leave my slaves?” The angels reply: “When we left them they were praying and when we reached them, they were praying.”
What do angels report to Allah regarding your state at the time of Fajr and ‘Asr? =)
Volume 1, Book 10, Number 531:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah’s Apostle said, “If anyone of you can get one Rak’a of the ‘Asr prayer before sunset, he should complete his prayer. If any of you can get one Rak’a of the Fajr prayer before sunrise, he should complete his prayer.”
Even if a minute’s left in ‘Asr, pray!
Volume 1, Book 10, Number 532:
Narrated Salim bin ‘Abdullah:
My father said, “I heard Allah’s Apostle saying, ‘The period of your stay as compared to the previous nations is like the period equal to the time between the ‘Asr prayer and sunset. The people of the Torah were given the Torah and they acted (upon it) till mid-day then they were exhausted and were given one Qirat (of gold) each. And then the people of the Gospel were given the Gospel and they acted (upon it) till the ‘Asr prayer then they were exhausted and were! given one Qirat each. And then we were given the Qur’an and we acted (upon it) till sunset and we were given two Qirats each. On that the people of both the scriptures said, ‘O our Lord! You have given them two Qirats and given us one Qirat, though we have worked more than they.’ Allah said, ‘Have I usurped some of your right?’ They said, ‘No.’ Allah said: “That is my blessing I bestow upon whomsoever I wish.”
Volume 1, Book 10, Number 533:
Narrated Abu Musa:
The Prophet said, “The example of Muslims, Jews and Christians is like the example of a man who employed laborers to work for him from morning till night. They worked till mid-day and they said, ‘We are not in need of your reward.’ SO the man employed another batch and said to them, ‘Complete the rest of the day and yours will be the wages I had fixed (for the first batch). They worked Up till the time of the ‘Asr prayer and said, ‘Whatever we have done is for you.’ He employed another batch. They worked for the rest of the day till sunset, and they received the wages of the two former batches.”
Allah bestows His favors upon whom He wills. Five prayers, especially the ‘Asr prayer, is an extra-special favor upon the Muslims. Won’t you accept the beautiful gift and start unwrapping it? :)
Wassalam.
Importance of ‘Asr Prayer (Ahadith 527-528)
Salam,
Bismillah.
Volume 1, Book 10, Number 527:
Narrated Ibn ‘Umar:
Allah’s Apostle said, “Whoever misses the ‘Asr prayer (intentionally), then it is as if he lost his family and property.”
Imagine such a loss. And it’s not so hard to imagine. Some people have to through natural disasters like earthquakes and floods in order to lose their family and property. Some people do it simply: by not praying/delaying ‘Asr. Astaghfirullah!
Volume 1, Book 10, Number 528:
Narrated Abu Al-Mahh:
We were with Buraida in a battle on a cloudy day and he said, “Offer the ‘Asr prayer early as the Prophet said, “Whoever leaves the ‘Asr prayer, all his (good) deeds will be annulled.”
You woke up, prayed, helped your mother in the kitchen, smiled at your brother, carried someone’s baggage for them, gave good advice to a friend, swallowed your anger for Allah’s sake, and left the ‘Asr prayer because you were busy playing/working. Guess what, all those good deeds, LOST. Like you never did them. And ‘all good deeds’ probably implies the good deeds you’ve done all your life. This is just a day’s work. SubhanAllah.
Remember, delaying the prayer intentionally and not praying at all are the same.
حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلَاةِ الْوُسْطَىٰ
“Guard strictly (five obligatory) As-Salawat (the prayers) especially the middle Salat (i.e. the best prayer – ‘Asr).” [Al-Baqarah: 238]
No doubt, the middle prayer, ‘Asr, holds immense importance. This does not mean the other prayers are any less significant. It’s just to emphasize and remind us that we better not leave our prayers, especially the ‘Asr prayer. Because we usually tend to forget this one. Either we’re busy working, or studying, or even resting. That time of the day you find the roads jammed. So in all that rush, we’re likely to forget/delay our ‘Asr prayer. One word: DON’T!
Wassalam.
Time for ‘Asr Prayer (Ahadith 519-526)
Salam,
Bismillah.
Volume 1, Book 10, Number 519:
Narrated Aisha:
Allah’s Apostle used to offer the ‘Asr prayer when the sunshine had not disappeared from my chamber.
Volume 1, Book 10, Number 520:
Narrated ‘Aisha:
Allah’s Apostle used to offer the ‘Asr prayers at a time when the sunshine was still inside my chamber and no shadow had yet appeared in it.
Hadith no. 521 same as above.
Volume 1, Book 10, Number 522:
Narrated Saiyar bin Salama:
I along with my father went to Abu- Barza Al-Aslarrni and my father asked him, “How Allah’s Apostle used to offer the five compulsory congregational prayers?” Abu- Barza said, “The Prophet used to pray the Zuhr prayer which you (people) call the first one at mid-day when the sun had just declined The Asr prayer at a time when after the prayer, a man could go to the house at the farthest place in Medina (and arrive) while the sun was still hot. (I forgot about the Maghrib prayer). The Prophet loved to delay the ‘Isha which you call Al- Atama and he disliked sleeping before it and speaking after it. After the Fajr prayer he used to leave when a man could recognize the one sitting beside him and he used to recite between 60 to 100 Ayat (in the Fajr prayer) .
- Time for ‘Asr prayer: when the sun is still hot (before sunset).
- Prophet (SAW) disliked sleeping before ‘Isha and speaking (in vain) after it.
We used to pray the Asr prayer and after that if someone happened to go to the tribe of Bani Amr bin Auf, he would find them still praying the Asr (prayer).
that he heard Abu Umama saying: We prayed the Zuhr prayer with ‘Umar bin Abdul Aziz and then went to Anas bin Malik and found him offering the Asr prayer. I asked him, “O uncle! Which prayer have you offered?” He said ‘The Asr and this is (the time of) the prayer of Allah’s Apostle which we used to pray with him.”
Narrated Anas bin Malik:
Allah’s Apostle used to offer the ‘Asr prayer at a time when the sun was still hot and high and if a person went to Al-‘Awali (a place) of Medina, he would reach there when the sun was still high. Some of Al-‘Awali of Medina were about four miles or so from the town.
Volume 1, Book 10, Number 526:Narrated Anas bin Malik:
We used to pray the ‘Asr and after that if one of us went to Quba, he would arrive there while the sun was still high.
- ‘Asr begins when the shadows of objects are equal to the actual size of those objects (x1).
- ‘Asr ends when the shadows get doubled (x2).
Combining + Shortening Prayers (Hadith No. 518)
Salam,
Bismillah.
Volume 1, Book 10, Number 518:
Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas:
“The Prophet prayed eight Rakat for the Zuhr and ‘Asr, and seven for the Maghrib and ‘Isha prayers in Medina.” Aiyub said, “Perhaps those were rainy nights.” Anas said, “May be.”
Prayers can be shortened + combined while traveling, and during extraordinary circumstances. One shouldn’t make a habit out of this, though.
Breaking down the Hadith:
- Eight Rak’aat for Zuhr and ‘Asr = 4 fardh (obligatory) rak’aat for Zuhr + 4 fardh rak’aat for ‘Asr.
- Seven Rak’aat for Maghrib and ‘Isha: 3 fardh rak’aat for Maghrib + 4 fardh rak’aat for ‘Isha.
Time for Zuhr Prayer (Ahadith 516-517)
Salam,
Bismillah.
Hadith no. 515 is a repeat. Read it here.
Volume 1, Book 10, Number 516:
Narrated Abu Al-Minhal:
Abu Barza said, “The Prophet used to offer the Fajr (prayer) when one could recognize the person sitting by him (after the prayer) and he used to recite between 60 to 100 Ayat (verses) of the Qur’an. He used to offer the Zuhr prayer as soon as the sun declined (at noon) and the ‘Asr at a time when a man might go and return from the farthest place in Medina and find the sun still hot. (The sub-narrator forgot what was said about the Maghrib). He did not mind delaying the ‘Isha prayer to one third of the night or the middle of the night.”
- Fajr time starts: when the night ends.
- Reciting 60-100 ayaat in fajr prayer is sunnah.
- Zuhr time starts: right after noon/mid-day (when the sun reaches its peak).
- Asr time starts: when the sun is still hot (before sunset).
- ‘Isha: can be delayed till the middle of the night (max.).
- Starting time: when the shadow of objects is minimal (equivalent to a shoelace).
- Ending time: when the shadow of objects is equal to the actual size of those objects (x1).
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