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.