Which Ritual Salat is named "Salat al Wusta" as per 2:238 ?

ths

Salaam almarhom,

I believe that Salat al-Wusta is most likely Salat al-Asr.
This tradition seems to have made its way to the hadiths, as there is even a hadith that places special weight on the Asr prayer.

Every week there is a topic about salah, and until now I haven't seen a study of all the verses together as I did some time ago here

PRAYERS SO FAR

Pray during the night, specifically the first part of the night (al-layli) (731-7)
When you wake up (7eena taquum) (5248-49)
During the night (min al-layli) (5248-49)
At Dawn (At the retreat of the stars - adbaar al-nujoom) (5248-49)
In the morning (bukratan) (7625-26)
In the evening (aseela) (7625-26)
And a part of the night (min al-layli) (7625-26)
Before the rising of the sun (qabla tuloo3 al-shamsi) (5039-40)
Before the setting of the sun (qabla 'l-ghuroob) (5039-40)
During the night (min al-layli) (5039-40)
During the night (min al-layli) (5116-1
In the early dawn (bil-as7aari - su7oor) (5116-1
Before the rising of the sun (qabla tuloo3 al-shamsi) (20130)
Before the setting of the sun (qabla ghuroobihaa) (20130)
During the night (min 2aanaa2 al-layli) (20130)
At the ends of the day (different from dawn and the evening as they are mentioned in the same verse) (atraaf al-nahaar) (20130)
From the sinking sun to the darkening of the night (dulook il-shamsi ilaa ghasaq al-layli (1778-79)
At dawn (quraan al-fajr) (1778-79)
At night (min al-layli) (1778-79)
In the evening (al-3ashiyyi) (4055)
At dawn (al-ibkaar) (4055)
At two ends of the day (tarafay 'l-nahaari) (11114)
Approaches of the night (zulfan min al-layli) (11114)
In the morning (7eena tusbihuun) (3017-1
In the afternoon (7eena tumsoon) (3017-1
At the setting sun (3ashiyyan) (3017-1
At noon (7eena tudhhiruun) (3017-1
The middle prayer? (Salat al-wusta) (223
A portion of the night (adna min thuluthay al-layli wa-nisfahu wa-thuluthahu) (7320)
At dawn (salat al-fajr) (245
At noon (al-dhaheera) (245
In the evening (salat al-isha) (245

So to summarize all this information, the salawat prescribed in the Quran are

Dawn - 7eena taquum 5248-49, adbaar al-nujoom 5248-49, bukratan 7625-26, qabla tuloo3 al-shamsi 5039-40, bil-as7aari 5116-18, qabla tuloo3 al-shamsi 20130, atraaf al-nahaar 20130, quraan al-fajr 1778-79, al-ibkaar 4055, 7eena tusbihuun 3017-18, salat al-fajr 2458
Noon - 7eena tudhhiruun 3017-18, al-dhaheera 2458
Afternoon - 7eena tumsoon 3017-18, Salat al-wusta 2238,
Evening - aseela 7625-26, qabla 'l-ghuroob 5039-40, qabla ghuroobihaa 20130, atraaf al-nahaar 20130, dulook il-shamsi 1778-79, al-3ashiyyi 4055, tarafay 'l-nahaari 11114, 3ashiyyan 3017-18, salat al-isha 2458
Night - al-layli 731-7, min al-layli 5248-49, min al-layli 7625-26, min al-layli 5039-40, min al-layli 5116-18, min 2aanaa2 al-layli 20130, ghasaq al-layli 1778-79, min al-layli 1778-79, zulfan min al-layli 11114, adna min al-layli 7320,

God_Within

Peace be upon you,

The God names the salaat ...dawn and dusk is all there is.

san

Stay centered(wusta) )

Nicely put. As a side note, "guerrilla" meditation throughout the day is an excellent way to keep ourselves centered. Dawn and dusk might be the best time to "get deeper" regularly, but if a quick and simple balancing act that is done every now and then helps us with our life, then why not? Ritual or not, so long as one finds balance with Salat, it's good.

redsulphur1229

This discussion depends on "wusta" meaning "middle" - but that is a secondary meaning. The primary meaning is "best" or "more important".

unknownuser

This discussion depends on "wusta" meaning "middle" - but that is a secondary meaning. The primary meaning is "best" or "more important".

Peace RedSulphur,

Can you elaborate on that some more? You are the first person I have seen mention this.

-Amina

mmkhan

This discussion depends on "wusta" meaning "middle" - but that is a secondary meaning. The primary meaning is "best" or "more important".

Salaam RS,

Even if wusta means best or more important, why is it made different than regular Salaats? Can you answer me please?

May Allah increase us in knowledge and guide us to His only path pr
mmKhan

redsulphur1229

see
http//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=11539.0

I don't presume to speak authoritatively regarding why one prayer is more important than another, but I have read the following explanation - during the time of the Prophet, Muslims praying the morning prayer at the Kaaba was not considered contraversial by the pagan Meccans. However, the evening prayer (Salat al-Isha, which actually occurs during what we now call Salat al-Maghrib) coincided with pagan prayer time (clapping of hands etc), and so Muslims were barred from praying at the Kaaba at that time, or harassed. I don't know the credibility of the explanation. i do not recall the author's name - will check.

Based on my reading of the Quran, there are only 2 prayers (dawn and dusk), named Salat al-Fajr and Salat al-Isha. If there are only 2, then there is no "middle prayer", which means that Salat al-Wusta must mean something else, and the word "wusta" actually does mean something else. That means one of these 2 salats is more important than the other. As to why, Allah knows best.

unknownuser

see
http//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=11539.0

I don't presume to speak authoritatively regarding why one prayer is more important than another, but I have read the following explanation - during the time of the Prophet, Muslims praying the morning prayer at the Kaaba was not considered contraversial by the pagan Meccans. However, the evening prayer (Salat al-Isha, which actually occurs during what we now call Salat al-Maghrib) coincided with pagan prayer time (clapping of hands etc), and so Muslims were barred from praying at the Kaaba at that time, or harassed. I don't know the credibility of the explanation. i do not recall the author's name - will check.

Based on my reading of the Quran, there are only 2 prayers (dawn and dusk), named Salat al-Fajr and Salat al-Isha. If there are only 2, then there is no "middle prayer", which means that Salat al-Wusta must mean something else, and the word "wusta" actually does mean something else. That means one of these 2 salats is more important than the other. As to why, Allah knows best.

Thank you for the link and explanation. When I was a Christian, we were always taught to pray when we woke up and before retiring for bed in the evening. Part of me thinks that isn't a coincidence with the two salats named in the Qur'an. I believe it was mmkhan that said that "wusta" means "central." Forgive me if I am wrong on that...

Peace,

Amina

mmkhan

Salaam,

Brother RedSulphur, how to translate ahsana in 3923?

3923 ...
3923 Allah has sent down the best statement...

Please click here to see other translations.

Can someone let me know at what time should be alSalaat alJuma offered if it is not at middle?

May Allah increase us in knowledge and guide us to His true path pr
mmkhan

redsulphur1229

mmkhan, Salaams,
Where is "Salat al-Juma" mentioned in the Quran???

mmkhan

mmkhan, Salaams,
Where is "Salat al-Juma" mentioned in the Quran???

Salaams brother,

Thanks for correcting me. It is not Salaat alJuma but alSalaat on Juma day which is the day of gathering/meeting.

May Allah bless you,
mmKhan

unknownuser

Salaams brother,

Thanks for correcting me. It is not Salaat alJuma but alSalaat on Juma day which is the day of gathering/meeting.

May Allah bless you,
mmKhan

mmKhan,

So are you saying that you believe the word "wusta" to be referring to the Juma prayer on Fridays?

mmkhan

mmKhan,

So are you saying that you believe the word "wusta" to be referring to the Juma prayer on Fridays?

Salaam Amina,

Yes, you understood correctly yes

May Allah increase us in knowledge and guide us to His true path pr
mmKhan

unknownuser

Salaam Amina,

Yes, you understood correctly yes

May Allah increase us in knowledge and guide us to His true path pr
mmKhan

So then, the meaning "central" is not implying a time or place, but a level of importance?

Peace,

Amina

mmkhan

So then, the meaning "central" is not implying a time or place, but a level of importance?

Peace,

Amina

Peace Amina,

Yes not implying a time or place, and I did not use the word central because it may show you a level of importance, so, I used middle instead. To me, all Salaats are important, no important than other because all are for Allah. What could be the reason of making any Salaat important over other Salaats? I don't see any reason.

But alSalaat on Juma or day of meeting is important because of added Allah's zikr before Salaat.

629
629 O you who have believed, when is called for the prayer on the day of gathering/meeting, then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave selling. That is better for you, if you only knew.

Please click here to see other translations.

Please note that for remembrance of Allah, we have to leave selling and hasten to join in and it is also said, that is better for you if you knew.

Another aayat showing the importance of remembrance of Allah is 2945.

2945
2945 Recite, what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish prayer. Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allah is greater. And Allah knows that which you do.

Please click here to see other translations.

Hope you understand what I am saying, inshaAllah.

May Allah increase us in knowledge and guide us to His true path pr
mmKhan

unknownuser

Peace Amina,

Yes not implying a time or place, and I did not use the word central because it may show you a level of importance, so, I used middle instead. To me, all Salaats are important, no important than other because all are for Allah. What could be the reason of making any Salaat important over other Salaats? I don't see any reason.

But alSalaat on Juma or day of meeting is important because of added Allah's zikr before Salaat.

629
629 O you who have believed, when is called for the prayer on the day of gathering/meeting, then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave selling. That is better for you, if you only knew.

Please click here to see other translations.

Please note that for remembrance of Allah, we have to leave selling and hasten to join in and it is also said, that is better for you if you knew.

Another aayat showing the importance of remembrance of Allah is 2945.

2945
2945 Recite, what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish prayer. Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allah is greater. And Allah knows that which you do.

Please click here to see other translations.

Hope you understand what I am saying, inshaAllah.

May Allah increase us in knowledge and guide us to His true path pr
mmKhan

I apologize. I thought it was you who said that "wusta" meant "central."

mmkhan

I apologize. I thought it was you who said that "wusta" meant "central."

Peace Amina,

That is OK, no need to apologize. We may mistake when studying different opinions by different people.

mmKhan

redsulphur1229

mmkhan, Salaams
Where does the word "Juma" occur in 629? I see yaum ul jumuah (day of gathering), but no reference to "juma".

Wakas

Best thread so far on al salat al wusta, in my view
http//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=7727.0