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that at least three "approaches of the night" are meant. The late afternoon prayer, 'Asr, can be one of these three, and
the evening prayer, Magrib, just after sunset, can be the second. The early night prayer, 'Isha, at supper time-when
the glow of sunset is disappearing, would be the third of the "approaches of the night", when we commit ourselves to
Allah before sleep. These are the five canonical prayers of Islam. (11.114)
1618 "Those things that are good": in this context the words refer primarily to prayers, but they include all good thoughts,
good words, and good deeds. It is by them that we keep away everything that is evil, whether referring to the past, the
present, or the future. (11.114)
17:79 - And pray in the small watches of the morning: (it would be) an additional prayer (or spiritual
profit) for thee: soon will thy Lord raise thee to a station of Praise and Glory! 22772278
2277 This is held to be addressed specially to the holy Prophet who usually prayed more than the five canonical prayers.
The Tahajjud was a prayer after midnight, in the small watches of the morning. (17.79)
2278 To the Prophet was to be assigned in the Hereafter the highest Post of Honour and Glory-the Maqam Mahmud,
implying his excellence above all other Prophets. The immediate reference may be to the hope that the Makkan
persecution will soon be over and the glorious work in Madinah will begin. (17.79)
17:78 - Establish regular prayers at the sun's decline till the darkness of the night and the morning
prayer and reading: for the prayer and reading in the morning carry their testimony. 22752276
2275 The Commentators understand here the command for the five daily canonical prayers, viz.: the four from the
declination of the sun from the zenith to the fullest darkness of the night, and the early morning prayer, Fajr, which is
usually accompanied by a reading of the holy Qur-an. The four afternoon prayers are: Zuhr, immediately after the sun
begins to decline in the afternoon; 'Asr, in the late afternoon; Magrib, immediately after sunset; and Isha, after the
glow of sunset has disappeared and the full darkness of the night has set in. There is difference of opinion as to the
meaning of particular words and phrases, but none as to the general effect of the passage. (17.78)
2276 The morning prayer is specially singled out for separate mention, because the morning is a "peaceful hour" and
special influences act on the soul awaking from the night's rest. Special testimony is borne to the prayers of this hour
by the angelic host. (17.78)
20:130 - Therefore be patient with what they say and celebrate (constantly) the praises of thy Lord before the
rising of the sun and before its setting; yea celebrate them for part of the hours of the night and at the
sides of the day: that thou mayest have (spiritual) joy. 26542655
2654 All good men must be patient with what seems to them evil around them. That does not mean that they should sit still
and do nothing to destroy evil; for the fight against evil is one of the cardinal points in Islam. What they are told is that
they must not be impatient: they must pray to Allah and commune with Him, so that their patience and faith may be
strengthened, and they may be able the better to grapple with evil. For they thus not only get strength in this world but
pleasure of Allah in the Hereafter as well. (20.130)
2655 Taraf, plural atraf, may mean sides, ends, extremities. If the day be compared to a tubular figure standing erect, the
top and bottom are clearly marked, but the sides are not so clearly marked: they would be atraf (plural), not tarafain
(dual). Now the prayer before sunrise is clearly Fajr; that before sunset is Asr: "part of the hours of the night" would
indicate Magrib (early night, just after sunset), and Isha, before going to bed. There is left Zuhr, which is in the
indefinite side or middle of the day : it may be soon after the sun's decline from noon, but there is considerable latitude
about the precise hour. The majority of Commentators interpret in favour of the five Canonical prayers, and some
include optional prayers. But I think the words are even more comprehensive. A good man's life is all one sweet Song
of Praise to Allah. (20.130)
30:17 - So (give) glory to Allah when ye reach eventide and when ye rise in the morning; 3521
3521 The special times for Allah's remembrance are so described as to include all our activities in life,-when we rise early in
the morning, and when we go to rest in the evening; when we are in the midst of our work, at the decline of the sun,
and in the late afternoon. It may be noted that these are all striking stages in the passage of the sun through our
terrestrial day, as well as stages in our daily working lives. On this are based the hours of the five canonical prayers
afterwards prescribed in Madinah; viz. (1) early morning before sunrise (Fajr); (2) when the day begins to decline, just
after noon (Zuhr); (3) in the late afternoon, say midway between noon and sunset ('Asr); and (4) and (5) the two
evening prayers, one just after sunset (Maghrib); and the other after the evening twilight has all faded from the
horizon, the hour indicated for rest and sleep ('Isha). Cf. xi. 114 nn. 1616-17; xvii. 78-79, n. 2275; xx. 130. n. 2655.
(30.17)
30:18 - Yea To Him be praise in the heavens and on earth; and in the late afternoon and when the
day begins to decline.
50:39 - Bear then with patience all that they say and celebrate the praises of thy Lord before the
rising of the sun and before (its) setting 4978
4978 Allah should be remembered at all times. But the best time for individual adoration is early in the morning before
sunrise, late in the day before sunset, and a portion of the night, when there is stillness in the air, and man's spirit
loves to commune with things spiritual. Those who would connect this with the five canonical prayers, instituted at a
later stage in Madinah, would take the Fajr for the prayer before sunrise, the Zuhr and, the Asr for the afternoon
prayers before sunset and the Magrib and the Ishaa for the night prayers. (50.39)
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