"Establish the prayer," meaning: the five daily prayers. "At the decline of the sun," meaning: at its passing from the zenith of the sky, which refers to the Dhuhr (noon) and Asr (afternoon) prayers. "To the darkness of the night," meaning: its gathering and its gloom; this refers to the Maghrib (sunset) prayer at the beginning of the night, and the Isha (night) prayer at the gathering of the night and its darkness when the twilight disappears. "And the recitation of the dawn," which is the Subh (morning) prayer. "Indeed, the recitation of the dawn is witnessed," for it is witnessed by the angels of the night and the angels of the day.
Muhammad said: The meaning of His saying "And the recitation of the dawn" is: And establish the recitation of the dawn.
﴿أقِم الصَّلَاة﴾ يَعْنِي: الصَّلَوَاتِ الْخَمْسَ ﴿لِدُلُوكِ الشَّمْسِ﴾ أَيْ: لِزَوَالِهَا فِي كَبِدِ السَّمَاءَ، يَعْنِي: صَلَاةَ الظُّهْرِ وَالْعَصْرِ ﴿إِلَى غسق اللَّيْل﴾ يَعْنِي: اجْتِمَاعَهِ وَظُلْمَتَهِ؛ صَلَاةَ الْمَغْرِبِ عِنْدَ بَدْوِ اللَّيْلِ، وَصَلَاةَ الْعِشَاءِ عِنْدَ اجْتِمَاعِ اللَّيْلِ، وَظُلْمَتُهُ إِذَا غَابَ الشَّفق ﴿وَقُرْآن الْفجْر﴾ وَهِي صَلَاة الصُّبْح ﴿إِن قُرْآن الْفجْر كَانَ مشهودا﴾ تَشْهُدُهُ مَلَائِكَةُ اللَّيْلِ وَمَلَائِكَةُ النَّهَارِ.
قَالَ مُحَمَّد: قَوْله ﴿وَقُرْآن الْفجْر﴾ الْمَعْنى: وأقم قُرْآن الْفجْر.
