What is the middle prayer that is stated in the 238th verse of the chapter al-Baqara: "Guard strictly your (habit of) prayers especially the middle prayer"?

What is the middle prayer that is stated in the 238th verse of the chapter al-Baqara: "Guard strictly your (habit of) prayers especially the middle prayer"?

Dear Brother / Sister,

Allah gave special importance to the middle prayer by commanding,

"Guard strictly your (habit of) prayers especially the middle prayer, and stand before Allah in a devout (frame of mind)." (al-Baqara, 2/238).

Although there is not definite proof as to which one of the five daily prayers is the middle prayer, there are narrations that it can be the noon or afternoon prayer. Most of the Companions and tabi’in hold the view that it is the afternoon prayer.

 God Almighty did not state definitely which prayer was the middle prayer because He wants each prayer to be regarded as the middle prayer and to be performed carefully. Since the afternoon prayer is in the middle of day (morning and noon prayers) and night (evening and night prayers), it should be performed very carefully. (Muhammed Hamdi Yazır, Hak Dini Kur'ân Dili, İstanbul 1935, I, 810; Muhammed Ali as-Sabuni, Mukhtasaru Tafsir-i Ibn Kathir, Beirut 1401, I, 218; Mehmed Vehbî, Hulâsatü'l Beyân Fî Tefsîri'l-Kur'ân, İstanbul 1339-1341,I, 204).

Our Prophet said the following in a hadith:

"Anyone who misses the afternoon prayer is like someone who has missed his family and property." (Sahih Muslim Trns. Mehmet Sofuoğlu, İstanbul 1968,II, 256).

In another hadith, the Prophet said:

"Anyone who performs salat al-bardayn (morning and afternoon prayers) enters Paradise" (Ahmed Naim, Sahih Bukhari Mukhtasar Tajrid Sarih Translation, Ankara 1985,III 521); In another hadith, he said:

"On the day of Ahzab, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, "They prevented us from performing the middle prayer, afternoon prayer. May Allah fill their houses and graves with fire." Then, he performed that prayer between the two night prayers (evening and night prayers) In another hadith, he said, "The deeds of a person who deliberately misses the afternoon prayer become invalidated " (Ahmed Naim, ibid, I 493).

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