"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) set out at nightfall, then stopped to camp at the end of the night, and he did not wake up until the sun had risen or had partly risen. He did not pray until the sun had risen (fully), then he prayed, and that was the 'middle prayer' (Salat Al-Wusta)."
Hadith Commentary: The Book of the Times (of Prayer)
Source: Sunan an-Nasa'i 625 | Author: Sunan an-Nasa'i
Contextual Analysis
This narration describes a journey where the Prophet (ﷺ) delayed the Asr prayer until after sunrise the following day due to exhaustion. The "middle prayer" (Salat Al-Wusta) refers to the Asr prayer, as confirmed by multiple classical scholars including Imam Nawawi and Ibn Hajar.
Legal Rulings Derived
This hadith establishes the permissibility of combining prayers during travel when necessary. It demonstrates that the Prophet (ﷺ) combined Asr of one day with Fajr of the next, showing flexibility in prayer times during journeys.
The identification of Asr as the "middle prayer" resolves scholarly differences on which prayer holds this special designation mentioned in Quran 2:238.
Spiritual Significance
This incident illustrates the balance between strict observance and practical necessity in Islamic law. While prayers are obligatory, Allah's mercy accommodates human needs during travel and exhaustion.
The Prophet's action teaches us that Islam considers human circumstances while maintaining the essence of worship, emphasizing the religion's practicality and compassion.