Section on the diverse subsidiary rulings of the Sacred Law concerning prayer and zakah, along with the other meanings that accompany them
1 – The Exalted says: “Establish the prayer from the sun’s decline until the darkness of the night, and (establish) the recitation at dawn; truly the recitation at dawn is witnessed. And during a part of the night keep vigil with it as an extra act of devotion for you; hopefully your Lord will raise you to a praiseworthy station.” (Isra 17:78–79)
• This is Allah’s command to His servants to perform the prayer—a command repeated in numerous verses. In the Quran it normally comes in the phrase “establish the prayer,” as in this verse and in: “And establish the prayer” (al-Baqarah 2:43) and similar passages. This wording is stronger than merely saying “perform it,” for it enjoins the act itself together with the completion of its pillars, conditions, and perfections, outward and inward, and with making it a manifest, public practice—one of the greatest hallmarks of the religion.
• This verse contains something extra beyond the other verses: it commands that the prayer be observed in its five (or its three) specific times. These are the obligatory prayers, and assigning them to their times is a case of attributing a thing to the cause that renders it obligatory.
• “The sun’s decline (dulūk al-shams)” means its passing the meridian and moving from the east toward the west. Within this span fall the Zuhr prayer, which begins at the first moment of the decline, and the ‘Asr prayer, which is at the end of that period.
• “Until the darkness of the night” refers to its deep gloom; under this heading are the Maghrib prayer, signalling the onset of the darkness, and the ‘Ishā’ prayer, by which the darkness and gloom are complete.
• “And the Qur’an of dawn” denotes the Fajr prayer. It is called a “Qur’an” because the Law prescribes lengthening its recitation and because its recitation enjoys particular merit: it is witnessed by Allah, by the angels of the night, and by the angels of the day.