The Wisdom in the Variation of Prayer Times
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The Shaykh : Now, these five prayers were established at scattered times, not at one single time, for two benefits:
The first benefit is that people do not become bored or exhausted. If a person were to pray seventeen rak'ahs at one single time, he might become tired and bored, and he might perform them in a manner other than what is required. So they were distributed across five times. Pay attention.
The second benefit is that this distribution is like watering a tree. Whenever a person becomes heedless of the remembrance of Allah, he returns to it. For this reason, Allah the Exalted said: for what purpose? Prayer is the remembrance of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). If it were established, for example, at one single time, a person would perform it, and then after that time he would become heedless, and the desired result would not be achieved, because prayer revives the heart and brings it closer to Allah (Mighty and Majestic). These are two benefits in the fact that they are what? Distributed at scattered times. Then, what is the wisdom in them being established at these specific times? You will find that sometimes the duration between two prayers is long, and sometimes it is short. From Fajr to Zuhr, is it not long? From 'Isha' to Fajr, it is long. From Zuhr to 'Asr, it is moderate. From Fajr to the rising of the sun, it is not [long]. From Maghrib to 'Isha', it is short. The wisdom in that, and Allah knows His wisdom best, is that they are linked to the visible, clear change in the horizon. For example, while people are in pitch darkness, the horizon suddenly brightens. Is this a change or not? It is a change. Who is able to bring this light after the horizon was dark with pitch darkness? No one is able except Allah (Mighty and Majestic). So this is a sign among the signs of Allah. For that reason, the Fajr prayer was legislated. Then the prayer was cut off at the rising of the sun so that this would be a time of leisure for people and for seeking their livelihood.
Regarding the Zuhr prayer, you know that it is when the sun has passed its zenith. The movement of the sun from the eastern horizon to the western horizon is among the signs of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). It is a change. While the shadow is decreasing, it increases after the zenith. Who is able to change this? Allah (Mighty and Majestic). No one is able except Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). So we say this is among the signs of Allah, and it became the cause for the prayer. As for 'Asr, I do not know the wisdom for it, and knowledge is with Allah (Mighty and Majestic). As for Maghrib, we say about it what we said about the Fajr prayer. And as for 'Isha', when the red twilight disappears, there is a change in the atmosphere, because the red twilight is an indication of the nearness of the sun's rays. So when it disappears, it indicates their distance.
The first benefit is that people do not become bored or exhausted. If a person were to pray seventeen rak'ahs at one single time, he might become tired and bored, and he might perform them in a manner other than what is required. So they were distributed across five times. Pay attention.
The second benefit is that this distribution is like watering a tree. Whenever a person becomes heedless of the remembrance of Allah, he returns to it. For this reason, Allah the Exalted said:
And establish prayer
وأقم الصلاةfor My remembrance
لذكريRegarding the Zuhr prayer, you know that it is when the sun has passed its zenith. The movement of the sun from the eastern horizon to the western horizon is among the signs of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). It is a change. While the shadow is decreasing, it increases after the zenith. Who is able to change this? Allah (Mighty and Majestic). No one is able except Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). So we say this is among the signs of Allah, and it became the cause for the prayer. As for 'Asr, I do not know the wisdom for it, and knowledge is with Allah (Mighty and Majestic). As for Maghrib, we say about it what we said about the Fajr prayer. And as for 'Isha', when the red twilight disappears, there is a change in the atmosphere, because the red twilight is an indication of the nearness of the sun's rays. So when it disappears, it indicates their distance.