The Significance of Congregational Prayers and the Witness of Angels
THE MEETING OF THE ANGELS AT THE TIMES OF FAJR AND ASR PRAYERS
ALLĀH says,
إِنَّ قُرْانَ الْفَجْرِ كَانَ مَشْهُودًا
Verily the recitation of the Qur’ān in the early dawn is ever witnessed.
Ibn Masud reported from Abu Hurayrah (may ALLĀH be pleased with them both) that the Prophet (ﷺ) said concerning this Ayah: “It is witnessed by the angels of the night and the angels of the day.”
Al-Bukhari narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “The prayer offered in congregation is twenty-five degrees better than the prayer offered individually, and the angels of the night and the angels of the day meet at Salat Al-Fajr.”
Abu Hurayrah said: Recite, if you wish:
وَقُرْانَ الْفَجْرِ إِنَّ قُرْانَ الْفَجْرِ كَانَ مَشْهُودًا
and recite the Qur’an in the early dawn. Verily, the recitation of the Qur’an in the early dawn is ever witnessed.
It was recorded in the Two Sahihs from Abu Hurayrah, the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “The angels of the night and the angels of the day come amongst you in successive groups (in shifts). They meet at the Morning prayer (Fajr) and at the Mid-afternoon prayer (‘Asr). Those who stayed among you ascend, and their Lord asks them, although HE knows best about you, “How did you leave My servants!”
They say, “We came to them when they were praying and we left them when they were praying.”
Abdullāh bin Masud said,
“The two guards meet at Salat Al-Fajr, and one group ascends while the other stays where it is.”
These were the comments of Ibrahim An-Nakhai, Mujahid, Qatadah and others on the Tafsir of this Ayah.
{Tafsir Ibn Kathīr}
#ibnkathir #Isra (17:78)