- “Guard the prayers, and the middle prayer, and stand before Allah in devout obedience. If you are in fear, then [pray] on foot or mounted…” ⦗al-Baqarah 238–239⦘ to the end of the verse.
• The Almighty commands that the prayers be diligently guarded in general, and that the middle prayer in particular—namely the ʿAsr (afternoon) prayer—receive special attention because of its merit and distinction, the attendance therein of the angels of the night and of the day, and because it is the last prayer of the daylight hours.
• Guarding the prayers means that the servant shows careful concern for them from every aspect the Lawgiver has prescribed and encouraged: observing their appointed times, offering them in congregation, performing everything that completes and perfects them, so that the prayer becomes flawless, deters its performer from indecency and wrongdoing, and thereby increases his faith. This is achieved when the heart is present and humble, for that is the very core and spirit of the prayer. Hence His words: “and stand before Allah in devout obedience” ⦗al-Baqarah 238⦘—that is, with sincerity and humility toward Allah. Qunūt is the continual observance of obedience coupled with humility, and its perfection includes stillness of the limbs and silence(1) from all speech unrelated to the prayer.
• The verse also indicates that standing in an obligatory prayer is a pillar if the intended meaning of “standing” is the physical upright posture. If, however, the meaning is the performance of the prayer’s actions in general, the verse commands the establishment of the entire prayer so that it is offered complete and without deficiency.
• “If you are in fear, then [pray] on foot or mounted” ⦗al-Baqarah 239⦘—meaning: perform the prayer while walking on your feet or hurrying on them, or while riding camels or any other mounts.