PRAYER SECTION · 131 – RECITAL DURING DZUHUR (NOON) AND ASR (AFTERNOON) PRAYERS
Jabir ibn Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) would recite in the noon and afternoon prayers, “By the sky with its stars,” and surahs similar to these. [498]
COMMENTARY
This honorable hadith indicates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) frequently recited in this manner during the noon and afternoon prayers. It is not as if the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) only recited Surah “Glorify the name of your Lord, Most High” in the noon prayer, or read from Surahs "Luqman" and "Zariyat," as narrated by Muslim, or recited from "Ghashiyah" in the second rak'ah of the noon prayer while reciting "Glorify the name of your Lord, Most High" in the first, as also narrated by Nasa’i. Bukhari narrates that he prolonged the first rak'ah of the noon prayer more than the second, but does not specify what he recited.
Jabir ibn Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) would perform the noon prayer as the sun set and recite [chapters] like "And the Night When It Overspreads" (Surah al-Muzammil), and he would do so in other prayers, but he used to prolong the morning prayer.
COMMENTARY:
The time for the noon prayer is broad, therefore moderate length chapters can be recited in it. The reason for reciting more in the first rak'ah of the morning prayer is because it is a time of sleep. Not everyone who wakes up with the adhan can arrive at the prayer simultaneously, and to prevent those who wish to attend from being deprived of the reward of congregation, the first rak'ah of the morning prayer is prolonged by an amount equal to that of the second rak'ah.
From Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with him:
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, prostrated during the afternoon prayer (reciting), then he rose and performed rukū’. We saw the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, reciting in his prostration.
Muhammad bin Isa said:
No one mentioned “Umayya” among the narrators except from Mu’tamir.
From Abdullah bin Ubaydulah (may Allah be pleased with him):
Abdullah bin Ubaydulah relates that I approached Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) while he was amongst the young men of the Hashimites. One of our group said to a young man: "Ask Ibn Abbas whether the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) used to recite [the Quran] in the晌午 and afternoon prayers, or did he not?" Ibn Abbas replied: “No, no.” It was then said to him, "Perhaps he recited it inwardly." Ibn Abbas said: "Unravel this! This is worse than the first!" The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) is a servant obligated to convey what has been revealed to him. We were not singled out for anything except three characteristics, without being exclusive to the people:
1. Performing ablution completely.
2. Not consuming Zakat.
3. Being forbidden from mating an ass with a mare. [500]
EXPLANATION
*Hamshun:* Used in supplication against someone, meaning "Unravel this," or "Deeply unravel this."
There are three narrations from Ibn Abbas regarding whether recitation is permitted in secretly performed (nafil) prayers.
1. He doubts whether recitation is permissible in secretly performed prayers, as is the case in a subsequent narration.
2. He rejects its permissibility, as stated in this narration.
3. He confirms that it is recited, which is the narration of Ayyub from Abu al-Aliya. In this narration, Abu al-Aliya says: "I asked Ibn Abbas whether I should recite in the晌午 and afternoon prayers." Ibn Abbas said: “It belongs to the Imam; recite a little or much.”
Ibn Abbas stated that the Hashimites, to whom the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) belonged, were commanded with three things:
1. To observe all conditions and adab of ablution.
2. Not to consume Zakat, for the Hashimites do not take Zakat or charity, because Zakat is a rent on property. It is unsuitable for the pure lineage of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) to eat impure food.
3. They were forbidden from breeding mules by mating an ass with a mare. Because horses are instruments of war. A mule cannot do what a horse does; it lacks its agility. To prevent the extinction of the breed of horses, the lineage of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) was forbidden from mating an ass with a mare.
From Ibn 'Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him:
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, did he recite [certain verses] in the noon and afternoon prayers, or did he not? I do not know.