Quran 2:238 — Surah Al-Baqara Ayah 238 | Arabic, Translation & Tafsir

وَإِن طَلَّقْتُمُوهُنَّ مِن قَبْلِ أَن تَمَسُّوهُن...

2:238

Al-Baqara

فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ فَرِجَالًا أَوْ رُكْبَانًۭا ۖ فَإِ...

حَٰفِظُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلصَّلَوَٰتِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ٱلْوُسْطَىٰ وَقُومُوا۟ لِلَّهِ قَٰنِتِينَ

Haafizoo 'alas salawaati was Salaatil Wustaa wa qoomoo lillaahi qaaniteen

Maintain with care the [obligatory] prayers and [in particular] the middle prayer and stand before Allah, devoutly obedient.

Tafsir

Scholars offer complementary perspectives

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Maintain the five prayers by performing them at their appointed times and the middle prayer either that of the afternoon or the morning or the midday or another prayer there are many opinions on this matter; God has singled it out for mention because of its merit; and stand in prayer submissive to God li Lllāhi qānitīn some have said that this means ‘obedience’ on account of the Prophet s saying ‘Wherever the expression qunūt ‘submission’ appears in the Qur’ān it denotes obedience’ as reported by Ahmad b. Hanbal and others; it is also said to mean ‘in silence’ sākitīn on the basis of a hadīth of Zayd b. Arqam in which he said ‘We used to speak to each other sometimes during prayer but when this was revealed we were commanded to be silent and were forbidden to talk’ as reported by the two Shaykhs Bukhārī and Muslim.

" And observe prayer at the (two) ends of the day and in the first hours of the night. Surely, good deeds take away evil deeds. That is a reminder for the mindful" (xi. 115). That person said: Allah's Messenger, does it concern me only? He (the Holy Prophet) said: It concerns every one of my Unimah, who acts according to it.

Sahih al-Bukhari #4329Narrated Zaid bin Arqam:Sahih

We used to speak while in prayer. One of us used to speak to his brother (while in prayer) about his need, till the Verse was revealed:-- "Guard strictly the (five obligatory) prayers, especially the middle (the Best) (`Asr) Prayer and stand before Allah with obedience (and not to speak to others during the prayers)." Then we were ordered not to speak in the prayers.

Sunan an-Nasa'i #474It was narrated that Abu Yunus, the freed slave of 'Aishah the wife of the Prophet (ﷺ), said:Sahih

"Aishah told me to copy a Mushaf for her, and she said: 'When you reach this verse, call my attention: Guard strictly the Salawat especially the middle (Al-Wusta) Salah. When I reached it, I called her attention and she dictated to me: 'Guard strictly the Salawat expecially the middle (Al-Wusta) Salah and the 'Asr prayer, and stand before Allah with obedience.' Then she said: 'I heard it from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).'" Al-Baqarah 2:238.

Sahih Muslim #1323Abu Yunus, the freed slave of 'A'isha said:Sahih

'A'isha ordered me to transcribe a copy of the Qur'an for her and said: When you reach this verse:" Guard the prayers and the middle prayer" (ii. 238), inform me; so when I reached it, I informed her and she gave me dictation (like this): Guard the prayers and the middle prayer and the afternoon prayer, and stand up truly obedient to Allah. 'A'isha said: This is how I have heard from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).

Sunan Abu Dawud #410Abu Yunus, the freed slave of 'Aishah said:

'Aishah commanded me to write for her come passage from the Qur'an. She also added: When you reach the following verse, inform me: "Be guardian of your prayers and of the midmost prayer" (2:238). When I reached it, I informed her. She asked me to write: "Be guardians of your prayers, and of the midmost prayer, and of the 'Asr prayer, and stand up with devotion of Allah" (2:238). 'Aishah then said: I heard it from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).