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Allaah, the Most Perfect and the Most High has ordered His slaves to establish the prayers with due care. He has told us to take special care concerning the middle prayer, which is the `Asr prayer. [This is the opinion of the majority of the people of knowledge from the Companions and those after them, that the middle prayer is the `Asr prayer. See Sharh us-Sunnah of al-Baghawee (2/232-237)]

He, the Most Perfect and the Most High, says

Guard strictly your prayers, and your middle prayer, and stand before Allaah in devoutness. [Soorah al-Baqarah: 238]

He, the Most Perfect and the Most High, has warned us about being neglectful of them, due to wealth, family and from other temptations of this world. He has particularised the doer of these actions with a severe punishment, particularly regarding the `Asr prayer.

He, the Most High, says:

So woe to the worshippers who are neglectful of their prayers. [Soorah al-Maa’oon:4-5]

The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, said: Whoever misses the `Asr prayer, it is as if he has lost his family and wealth.

[Related by al-Bukhaaree (2/30), Muslim (626) and others, from the hadeeth of Ibn `Umar, radiyallaahu `anhu.]

It is related from Aboo al-Mulaih `Aamir bin Usaamah bin `Umair bin al-Hadhalee, who said: We were with Buraidah in a battle on a cloudy day, and he said: Be early with the `Asr prayer, for the Prophet said: Whoever leaves the `Asr prayer, then his actions will be invalidated.

[Related by al-Bukhaaree (2/31,66), Ahmad (5/349-450, 357, 360,361), al-Bayhaqee (1/444), al-Baghawee in Sharh us-Sunnah (329), and others.]