my perception of salat wusta

[bachir1975]

Salam,
Here is my interpretation of Salat Wusta

Salat Wusta
One of the questions that has been asked by people using the Coran as a source of religious law, has been about understanding the meaning of ? salat wusta ?.
Some think that this ? salat ?, that is practised from lunch time until sunset, since one of the possible defintion of wusta is ? middle, median ?.
In order to reject this idea, since this argumentation is often based on the surat 17 verse 78, let?s approach several definitions of wusta before sarting to explain the meaning of sala wusta, according to my interpretation.
According to arab dictionaries, the meaning of the root ?wusta? is ? middle, between, best, best part of something, meditation, intercede between two, the furthest extrems, at equal distance, intermediary, fairest, more just/balanced, the most excellent between those two in particular, occupy the intermediate position ?
Then how about the salat wusta prescribed in surat 2 verse 238 ?
Why is it not determined by specific schedule/timeline, whereas the rest of salats in the Coran are precisely determined ?
According to the Coran and numerous verses, salats are all precisely determined in time, here is an example
Surat 4
103. And when you have completed the prayer, remember Allah standing, sitting, or on your sides. But when you become secure, re-establish prayer. Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.
Surat 17
78. Establish prayer at the decline of the sun until the darkness of the night and the Qur'an of dawn. Indeed, the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed.
Which clearly says that the salat starts at the disapearance of solar disc at the horizon until night fall. Since ? duluk shams ? means decline of the sun at its zenith or the disapearance of the solar disc depending on arab dictionaries, and arab prepositions (harf jar), such as ? ? the end of time window, then, it becomes impossible for the first defintino to be plausible.
Indeed, this would engender a 7 hours long salat which would also absorb the salat at sunset, given the fact that the landmark is night fall.
This also rejects the idea that wusta would start, according to some interpretations, at lunch time by using surat 17 v.78 as a time landmark.
As we?ve observed, according to the Coran, the salats are done in determined periods of time, so why does the salat wusta have no temporal indication ?
In order to understand what salat wusta is, let us forget for a moment the unanimously admitted definition (i.e middle), and let?s try to use the other definitions such as ?just, best, intermediary, ?? in order to get its meaning.
For this, let?s use a few verses of the Coran, so I can give you my interpretation. To do that, let?s approach the surat 4
101. And when you travel throughout the land, there is no blame upon you for shortening the prayer, if you fear that those who disbelieve may disrupt you. Indeed, the disbelievers are ever to you a clear enemy.
102. And when you are among them and lead them in prayer, let a group of them stand with you and let them carry their arms. And when they have prostrated, let them be behind you and have the other group come forward which has not prayed and let them pray with you, taking precaution and carrying their arms. Those who disbelieve wish that you would neglect your weapons and your baggage so they could come down upon you in one attack. But there is no blame upon you, if you are troubled by rain or are ill, for putting down your arms, but take precaution. Indeed, Allah has prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment.
103. And when you have completed the prayer, remember Allah standing, sitting, or on your sides. But when you become secure, re-establish prayer. Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.
What is to our interest over here, is the fact that according the verse 101, the salat is shortened. And it is asked of us to keep invoquing GOD ? standing, sitting or lying? in the verse 103, to compensate the time prescribed for the salat, as long as we?re in a situation of potential danger. However, let?s not forget an important fact in the verse 102, there are some people in charge of keeping an eye on the other group in order to protect them so this other group can pray quietly without worring.
Which brings us to ask ourselves another question how to do if nobody can keep an eye on the rest of the group.
It becomes clear, that the only method is to follow the comandement of the verse 103 and to apply the invocation during the time allocated for the salat. Since the latter has a determined time, with a landmark for the beginning and for the end.
Let?s look at another verse in order to understand all of its content and find out if the invocation is prescribed a this moment particular moment, since numerous verses reinforce each other ; in order to complete and improve its comprehension.

As an example, verses which invite us to feed a poor, but how ? To understand this example let?s have a look at the following verses
58.4. And he who does not find - then a fast for two months consecutively before they touch one another; and he who is unable - then the feeding of sixty poor persons. That is for you to believe in Allah and His Messenger; and those are the limits Allah . And for the disbelievers is a painful punishment.
The verse 4 of the surat 58 tells us to feed 60 poors, but how ? By giving 5 euros to each one of them, 3 euros, or 10 euros or even a sandwich with/without a drink ???
By observing other verses we understand how we should feed some poor people, which also helps to understand that verses reinforce one another
5.89. Allah will not impose blame upon you for what is meaningless in your oaths, but He will impose blame upon you for what you intended of oaths. So its expiation is the feeding of ten needy people from the average of that which you feed your families or clothing them or the freeing of a slave. But whoever cannot find - then a fast of three days . That is the expiation for oaths when you have sworn. But guard your oaths. Thus does Allah make clear to you His verses that you may be grateful.
The answer becomes clear thanks to this verse and additional information, which clearly tell us that we must feed a poor person the same way we feed our own family ?? So its expiation is the feeding of ten needy people from the average of that which you feed your families?.
Now that have clarified this, let?s go back to the verse 103 and let?s do the parallel with other verses which could reinforce this one
4.103. And when you have completed the prayer, remember Allah standing, sitting, or on your sides. But when you become secure, re-establish prayer. Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.
3.191. Who remember Allah while standing or sitting or on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, , "Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You ; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire.
Here, an additional comandement other than invocating GOD, is that we must ?give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth?, which according to the Coran, is the tool that GOD invites us to use to get closer from Him. What is also interesting, is that the same postures are present in the same verse ?standing or sitting or ?. Therefore, the parallel between these verses clarify also the methodology we have in order to compensate the time allocated to pray while being in a situation of danger, by ?the invocation and meditation.
Let?s deal with another verse similar to the latter
2.239. And if you fear on foot or riding. But when you are secure, then remember Allah , as He has taught you that which you did not know.

Once again, this verse reinforces the others (4.103, 3.191), but by giving other body posture, such as the gait or on our mount. Even the conditions under which we start back our normal salat are said here , just like the verse 4.103 which says ??But when you become secure, re-establish prayer.? And the verse 2.239 saying the same thing ??But when you are secure, then remember Allah , as He has taught you that which you did not know.?
It becomes clear that according to the Coran, in case of danger which wouldn?t allow us to pray normally, allows us to use this substitute prayer which is not determined by time like the salat wusta. If we?d do the parallel with all other verses mentioned above and if we?d link the verse 2.238 and 2.239, we?d then understand what salat really means. Therefore at the light of the Coran, it is clear that salat wusta is not characterized by a specified time unlike all the others being more detailed, this one simply depends on our everyday life and the situation we?re in (i.e a danger that could suddenly occur). In order to respect our duties at all times, God offers us to have a substitute salat. We now understand that the meaning ?middle? does definitely not fit the situation and terms such as ?just, best, intermediary, ?? really fit in this case. We also understand why GOD tells us to be diligent/regular with our salat, especially the salat ?wusta?, sincethisone can be done in all kinds od situations, whithout worrying from being persecuted, and what ?best? or ?just? thing would be to have the possibility of applying a salat in every circumstances, without any ?restrain?.
Therefore, we could also make a link with v. 2256, when GOD tells us ?no compulsion in the religion?
PS Wusta is used as an adjective in the v2238, like in the v. 2143
2.143. And thus we have made you a just community that you will be witnesses over the people and the Messenger will be a witness over you. And We did not make the qiblah which you used to face except that We might make evident who would follow the Messenger from who would turn back on his heels. And indeed, it is difficult except for those whom Allah has guided. And never would Allah have caused you to lose your faith. Indeed Allah is, to the people, Kind and Merciful.
It becomes clear also that the meaning of ?middle ? is not fit at all to this verse and if we take back the the meaning of the rootof ?wusta?, other definitions seem to be actually a better fit ?middle, between, best, best part of something, mediation, intercede between the 2, the furthest of the extrems, at equal distance, intermediary, more conform/fair/just/balanced, the most excellent between 2 in particular, occupy the intermediate postion?.
Note For those who think that salat is done by doing genuflexions, we can also understand with the v. 4102, that the salat is either made up of
one long rakat which starts standing up and ends by bowing (therefore, the inclination gets done in the middle),
or 2 rakats, since at the time when the 2 groups change, this could be a signal of the beginning of the second rakat, indeed, let?s not forget that the v. 101 mentions that thisone can shortened.
This reflects my personal interpretation, it could evolve or change radically, I then invite you to think to different possibilities of what ?salat wusta? could mean and correct my interpretation.