The evidence for those who say that “the middle prayer” is the `Asr prayer

English translation

'Ali reported:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: On the day (of the Battle) of Ahzab we were diverted from the middle prayer, till the sun set. May Allah fill their graves or their houses, or their stomachs with fire. The narrator is in doubt about" houses" and" stomachs".

English translation

This hadith has heed narrated by Qatada with the same chain of transmitters. And he said:

Their houses and their graves (be filled with fire), and did not express doubt over the words," houses" and" graves".

English translation

Yahya heard 'Ali saying that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said on the day (of the Battle) of Ahzab, while sitting in one of the openings of the ditch:

They (the enemies) have diverted us from the middle prayer till the sun set. May Allah fill their graves and their houses with fire, or their graves and stomachs with fire.

English translation

'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.

English translation

'Abdullah (b. Mas'ud) reported that the polytheists detained the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) from observing the afternoon prayer till the sun became red or it became yellow. Upon this the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

They have diverted us from (offering) the middle prayer. i. e. the 'Asr prayer. May Allah fill their bellies and their graves with fire, or he said: May Allah stuff their bellies and their graves with fire.

English translation

Abu Yunus, the freed slave of 'A'isha said:

'A'isha ordered me to transcribe a copy of the Qur'an for her and said: When you reach this verse:" Guard the prayers and the middle prayer" (ii. 238), inform me; so when I reached it, I informed her and she gave me dictation (like this): Guard the prayers and the middle prayer and the afternoon prayer, and stand up truly obedient to Allah. 'A'isha said: This is how I have heard from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).

English translation

Al-Bara' b. 'Azib reported:

This verse was revealed (in this way):" Guard the prayers and the 'Asr prayer." We recited it (in this very way) so long as Allah desired. Allah, then, abrogated it and it was revealed:" Guard the prayers, and the middle prayer." A person who was sitting with Shaqiq (one of the narrators in the chain of transmitters) said: Now it implies the 'Asr prayer. Upon this al-Bara' said: I have already informed you how this (verse) was revealed and how Allah abrogated it, and Allah knows best. Imam Muslim said: Ashja'i narrated it from Sufyan al-Thauri, who narrated it from al-Aswad b. Qais, who narrated it from 'Uqba, who narrated it from al-Bara' b. 'Azib who said: We recited with the Prophet (ﷺ) (the above-mentioned verse like this, i. e. instead of Salat al- Wusta, Salat al-'Asr) for a certain period. as It has been mentioned (in the above-quoted hadith).

English translation

Jabir b. 'Abdullah reported that Umar b. al-Khattab had been cursing the pagans of the Quraish an the day (of the Battle) of Khandaq (Ditch). (He came to the Prophet) and said:

Messenger of Allah, by God, I could not say. the 'Asr prayer till the sun set. Upon this the Messenger (ﷺ) said: By Allah I, too, have not observed it. So we went to a valley. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) performed ablution and we too performed ablution, and then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said the 'Asr prayer after the sun had set. and then said the evening prayer after it.

English translation

This hadith has been reported by Yahya b. Abd Kathir with the same chain of transmitters.