Maintain the prayers and the middle prayer and stand up truly obedient to Allah.
It is narrated in al-Kafi, Man Ia yahduruhu'l-faqih, at-Tafsir of al-Ayyashi and that of al-Qummi, about the words of Allah: Maintain the prayers and the middle prayer, through numerous chains from al-Baqir and as-Sadiq (a.s.) that: "Surely, the middle prayer is the noon prayer."
The author says: It is what is narrated from the Imams of Ahlu'l-bayt (a.s.) in their traditions with one voice. Of course, some of those traditions show that it is the Friday prayer. But it appears from the same traditions that they treat the noon and the Friday prayers as one prayer, not two. It is narrated in al-Kafi and at-Tafsir of al-'Ayyashi from Zurarah from al-Baqir (a.s.) - and the wording quoted here is fromal-Kafi - that he (the Imam) said: "Allah says: Maintain the prayers and the middle prayer, and it is the prayer of the noon, the first prayer the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) prayed, and it is (in) the middle of the day and between the two prayers of the day-time - the dawn and afternoon prayers." And he said: "And this verse was revealed and the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) was on a journey, so he (the Holy Prophet) recited qunut in it and continued it likewise in the journey and at the home-town, and he added two rak'ahs for him who is in his home-town. And those two rak'ahs added by the Prophet were dropped on Friday, for him who is in his home-town, because of the two sermons recited by the Imam. Therefore, he who prays on Friday without congregation, shall pray four rak'ahs of noon prayer like all other days..."
This tradition, as you see, counts the noon and the Friday prayers as one prayer, and says that it is the middle prayer. But most of these tradtions are al-maqtu (i.e., their chain of narrators are broken, or do not reach a ma'sum);and those that are connected to a ma'sum, their texts are not free from confusion, like the above-mentioned tradition of al-Kafi. Moreover it does not clearly fit the meaning of the verse. And Allah knowns better.
It is reported in ad-Durru'l-manthur: Ahmad, Ibn al-Mani', an-Nasa'i, Ibn Jabir, ash-Shashi and ad-Diya' have narrated through the chain of az-Zibriqan: "Verily, there was a group of the Quraysh, and Zayd ibn Thabit passed by them and they were assembled. So they sent two of their boys to him to ask him about the middle prayer. And he said: 'It is the noon prayer'. Then the boys came to Usamah ibn Zayd and asked him (the same question). And he said: 'It is the noon prayer. Verily, the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) used to pray the noon prayer in the summer and there would not be behind him except one or two lines, and the people were in their siesta or at their trade. Thereupon, Allah sent down the verse: Maintain the prayers and the middle prayer and stand up truly obedient to Allah. Then the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) said: "The men should desist (from that behavior) or most surely I shall burn down their houses." '"
The author says: The same reason has been narrated by Zayd ibn Thabit and others from other chains.
And know that there is much difference of opinion regarding the meaning of "the middle prayer", much of it arises because of differences in the Sunni traditions. It has been said that it is the dawn prayer, and it has been narrated from 'Ali (a.s.) and some companions. Others say that it is noon prayer, and it has been reported from the Holy Prophet and a number of the companions. Again it is said that it is the afternoon prayer, and this also has been reported from the Prophet and a number of companions - as-Suyuti has narrated in ad-Durru'l-manthur more than fifty traditions of this meaning. Some say that it is the evening prayer. Other say that it is hidden among the prayers as the Night of Destiny is hidden among the nights of Ramadan. This is reported in some traditions from some companions. And also it is said that it is the night prayers; and, lastly, that it is the Friday prayer.
It is reported in Majma'u'l-bayan about the words of Allah; And stand truly obedient to Allah, that al-qunut (obedience) is the invocation in the prayer during the standing posture, and it is narrated from al-Baqir and as-Sadiq (a.s.).
The author says: Also it is narrated from some companions.
There is a tradition in at-Tafsir of al-Ayyashi that as-Sadiq (a.s.) said about this verse: "(al-Qunut means) one's going towards prayer and maintaining (i.e., praying) it in its time, so that nothing diverts one's attention or keeps him from it."
The author says: There is no conflict between the two traditions, as one may easily understand.
It is reported in al-Kafi about the words of Allah: But if you are in danger, then (say your prayers) on foot or on horse back ..., that as-Sadiq (a.s.) said: "When he is afraid of a beast or a thief, he will say at-takbir and point (for the actions of prayer)."
And there is another tradition in Man la yahduruhu'l-faqih from the same Imam about the prayer when marching on: "It is at-takbir and at-tahlil." Then he (the Imam) recited this verse.
There is another tradition in the same book from the same Imam: "If you are in a fearful land and are afraid of a thief or a beast, then say the obligatory prayer and you are on your (riding) animal."
And the same book quotes a tradition of al-Baqir (a.s.) "He who is afraid of a thief shall pray by sign while (riding) on his mount."
The author says: There are numerous traditions of this meaning.
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