Holy Qor-aan 002:239
○ حَافِظُوۡا عَلَى الصَّلَوٰتِ وَالصَّلٰوةِ الۡوُسۡطٰى وَقُوۡمُوۡا لِلّٰهِ قٰنِتِيۡنَ
Haa-fay-dzoo-alus-sa-laa-waa-tay-wus-sa-laa-til-woos-taa Wa-qoo-moo-lil-laa-hay-qaa-nay-teen
Guard over the prayers and the prayer in the middle And stand before Allah devoutly.
- حَافِظُوۡا — Haa-fay-zoo — Guard (= v., Guard. Protect. Watch. Be a guardian, on guard or watchful. Take precaution and special care. Attend, enforce, guard and observe constantly, properly, regularly and strictly)
- عَلَى — Al…(us) — Over (= Above; for; on; over; upon)
- الصَّلَوٰتِ — Sa-la-waa-tay — The prayers (= All acts of worships)
- وَ — Wa…(us) — And (= Additionally; also. Applicable in the present context are also especially, including, particularly, regularly, specially, specifically or strictly)
- الصَّلٰوةِ — Sa-laa..(il) — The prayer (= Beseeching; praying night and day, all the time, in all things we do; supplication. Mandated 5 daily prayers)
- الۡوُسۡطٰى — Woos-taa — The middle (= Central. Coming or falling in the middle of doing other things in worldly pursuits, rush of work. business or is the midmost. ‘Prayer the hour of which approaches when you are preoccupied’)
- وَ — Wa — And (= Additionally; also; although; but; in addition to; while)
- قُوۡمُوۡا — Qoo-moo — You stand up (= Appear; establish prayer; demand like a child asks his parent follow God’s directions; stand firm; take a firm position regarding Him)
- لِ — L…(il) Before / For (= 1. Before; in front of; in the presence of. 2. For or with intent to benefit, object, purpose or reason of)
- اللّٰهِ — Laa-hay — Allah (= The Almighty God; The only One worthy of worship)
- قٰنِتِيۡنَ — Qaa-nay-teen — Devoutly (= n., Abjectly, attentively, devotedly, humbly, inwardly, obediently, penitently, really, sincerely, submissively, truly, willingly and fully following all instructions in total devotion, obedience, humility, submission, subservience and surrender. With a deeply devout frame of mind)
* Note 002:239: Prayer in the Middle is the Asr prayer that falls in the middle of the five daily prayers was specified by the Holy Prophet (s.a.w) – Ul-Bokhari.
However, calling any of the five daily prayer as the “Most excellent prayer” or “the middle Salat (i.e. the best prayer Asr“ appears quite a stretch)
