Which Surahs Are Named After Prayer Times?
ما هي السور التي سميت باسم وقت من أوقات الصلاة؟
There are two: Al-Fajr (By the dawn) [89:1], and Al-Asr (By the Time) [103:1].
سورة الفجر (والفجر) [89: 1] وسورة العصر (والعصر) [103: 1].
1. By the Dawn | والفجر
Surah Al-Fajr opens with the oath: By the dawn (89:1). Ibn Kathir says the dawn is well known: it is the morning, as Ali, Ibn Abbas, Mujahid, Ikrimah and al-Suddi said. Masruq, Mujahid and Muhammad ibn Ka'b said it is the dawn of the Day of Sacrifice in particular, and Ikrimah said it means the prayer offered at dawn.
وَالْفَجْرِ (سورة الفجر: 1)
افتتحت سورة الفجر بقوله تعالى: (والفجر) (الفجر 89: 1). قال ابن كثير: أما الفجر فمعروف، وهو الصبح، قاله علي وابن عباس ومجاهد وعكرمة والسدي، وعن مسروق ومجاهد ومحمد بن كعب: المراد به فجر يوم النحر خاصة، وقيل: المراد بذلك الصلاة التي تفعل عنده، كما قاله عكرمة.
2. By al-Asr | والعصر
Surah Al-Asr opens: By al-Asr, indeed mankind is in loss (103:1-2). Ibn Kathir explains al-asr as time, in which the deeds of people happen, good and bad; Malik reported from Zayd ibn Aslam that it is the late afternoon, and Ibn Kathir says the first is the well-known view. He also reports that al-Shafi'i said: if people reflected on this surah, it would suffice them.
إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ (سورة العصر: 2)
افتتحت سورة العصر بقوله تعالى: (والعصر إن الإنسان لفي خسر) (العصر 103: 1-2). قال ابن كثير: العصر الزمان الذي يقع فيه حركات بني آدم من خير وشر، وقال مالك عن زيد بن أسلم: هو العشي، والمشهور الأول. ونقل قول الشافعي رحمه الله: لو تدبر الناس هذه السورة لوسعتهم.
3. The Two Prayers the Angels Attend | يتعاقبون فيكم ملائكة
The Prophet said: angels take turns among you by night and by day, and they gather at the Fajr prayer and the Asr prayer (Sahih al-Bukhari 555). He also said: no one who prays before the rising of the sun and before its setting will enter the Fire (Sahih Muslim 634).
قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "يتعاقبون فيكم ملائكة بالليل وملائكة بالنهار، ويجتمعون في صلاة الفجر وصلاة العصر" (صحيح البخاري 555)، وقال: "لن يلج النار أحد صلى قبل طلوع الشمس وقبل غروبها" (صحيح مسلم 634).
4. Guarding the Asr Prayer | المحافظة على صلاة العصر
Buraydah told his companions on a cloudy day to pray Asr early, because the Prophet said: whoever leaves the Asr prayer, his deeds are nullified (Sahih al-Bukhari 553). The five prayers and their times are set out in how many prayers a Muslim prays in a day, and the times of day the Quran names in the parts of daytime mentioned in the Quran. Surah Al-Qadr ends with a prayer time, as explained in which surah ends with a prayer time.
قال بريدة لأصحابه في يوم ذي غيم: بكروا بصلاة العصر، فإن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: "من ترك صلاة العصر فقد حبط عمله" (صحيح البخاري 553).
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
Which surahs are named after prayer times?
Two: Al-Fajr (89) and Al-Asr (103).
What does al-fajr mean in Surah Al-Fajr?
Ali, Ibn Abbas and others said the morning; some said the dawn of the Day of Sacrifice, and Ikrimah said the prayer offered at dawn.
What does al-asr mean in Surah Al-Asr?
Ibn Kathir says time, in which people do good and bad; Zayd ibn Aslam said the late afternoon.
Which two prayers do the angels attend together?
The Fajr prayer and the Asr prayer (Sahih al-Bukhari 555).