71. WHICH IS MIDDLE PRAYER?
In this Quranic verse 2:238 it has been said 'Guard the middle prayer' Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had interpreted that –middle prayer is referring to only 'Asr' prayer
(Refer Bukhari 6396. )
We should not consider the views of others regarding the middle prayer after Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had given elucidation
This verse reveals another matter.
We know that Muslims must pray five times a day and that there are many evidence for this in Hadith. Nevertheless it has not been said in Quran as five times prayer. Hence, certain people assume that 'five times prayer' is against Quran.
Eventhough this verse did not say plainly that there are five times prayers; it indirectly says that there exist prayers at least five times a day.
This verses command us to establish prayers and middle prayer.
'Prayers' is plural. Since there is a distinct word ‘dual’ in Arabic to mention a pair (two). Plural in Arabic only would mean three at least. There is no plural in Arabic which would refer to less than three. (In Arabic plural would not mean two and above but it would mean three and above)
If it is said 'Establish prayers (minimum three) especially the middle prayer” totally it becomes four prayers. If it should be said 'middle' then it must be an odd number. There could not be' middle' in four.
There could be middle only if the numeral was five.
Hence we can understand from this that the total number of prayers is only five per day.
Some people might assume that even if the numeral (number of prayers) was three, there would be a middle one. Of course it is true there can be middle if the numeral is three.
But since the plural form ‘prayers’ has been used and also there is a mention about middle prayer distinctly, total would become four (three prayer + middle prayer).
We should look at the word ‘plural’ and at the same time we should regard the word ‘middle’ also. So if we consider both these (plural and middle prayer) we can understand that there remain five time prayers.
(For more details 226th and 361st explanatory notes and Quran, 30:17, 18)
71. WHICH IS MIDDLE PRAYER?
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