5/36. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 627f — Asr as the Middle Prayer
The evidence for those who say that “the middle prayer” is the `Asr prayer
Asr Is the Middle Prayer: Hadith From the Day of Ahzab
Sahih Muslim : 627f
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 627f
وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، وَأَبُو كُرَيْبٍ قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ مُسْلِمِ بْنِ صُبَيْحٍ، عَنْ شُتَيْرِ بْنِ شَكَلٍ، عَنْ عَلِيٍّ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَوْمَ الأَحْزَابِ " شَغَلُونَا عَنِ الصَّلاَةِ الْوُسْطَى صَلاَةِ الْعَصْرِ مَلأَ اللَّهُ بُيُوتَهُمْ وَقُبُورَهُمْ نَارًا " . ثُمَّ صَلاَّهَا بَيْنَ الْعِشَاءَيْنِ بَيْنَ الْمَغْرِبِ وَالْعِشَاءِ .
Ali reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said on the day (of the Battle) of Ahzab: They diverted us from saying the middle prayer, i. e. the 'Asr prayer. May Allah fill their houses and graves with fire; he then observed this prayer between the evening prayer and the night prayer.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 627fIn-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 259USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1314
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 627f
This hadith about Asr as the middle prayer is very direct. Ali reports that on the day of Ahzab, the Messenger of Allah said they had been diverted from the middle prayer, meaning the Asr prayer. The narration then says he prayed it between the two evening prayers, between Maghrib and Isha. For readers searching for which prayer is Salat al-Wusta, this report clearly names Asr in the wording provided. It also shows that the delay happened because they were kept busy on that day. The main lesson is the high place of Asr and the seriousness of missing its time. The Hadith stays focused on that event and does not require adding extra details beyond the text.
What we learn from this hadith
- This narration identifies the middle prayer as the Asr prayer.
- The Prophet was diverted from Asr on the day of Ahzab.
- The delayed prayer was then performed between Maghrib and Isha.
- The report shows the serious place of Asr among the daily prayers.
