Guarding the Middle Prayer
Guarding the Middle Prayer
Allah says in Sūrah al-Baqarah: “Guard your prayers, especially the middle prayer.” (2:238)
The “middle prayer” is given special emphasis, yet the Qur’an does not explicitly identify which prayer it is.
The majority of scholars held that it refers to ʿAṣr, understanding the day as beginning with Fajr and ending with ʿIshāʾ. Others held that it refers to Fajr, viewing the Islamic day as beginning with Maghrib and ending with ʿAṣr.
This Ayah is one example of how the Qur’an’s word choice invites reflection. By using “middle prayer” rather than naming a specific prayer, both interpretations can be accommodated. The takeaway is that both ʿAṣr and Fajr are challenging depending on your struggle!
ʿAṣr is difficult for those consumed by work and the busyness of life. It is often neglected as the demands of the day make one forgetful.
Fajr is difficult for those who struggle with oversleeping. It can be missed if one is not wary of procrastination and laziness.
The emphasis on safeguarding these two prayers captures two human weaknesses: being overly-ambitious in the world or being susceptible to laziness. Whichever tendency we are more prone to, that is the prayer we should guard with the greatest care. And Allah knows best.
