Question

What is the meaning of the following Hadith:

Wa hazarna qiyamahu fir rak’ataynil u-layayni minal ‘Asri ala qadri qiyamihi fil ukh-rayayni minaz Zuhri  (Sahih Muslim)

Answer

I will provide the explanatory translation of the complete Hadith.

Sayyiduna Abu Sa’id Al Khudri (radiyallahu ‘anhu) says:

“We would estimate how long Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) stood in Zuhr and ‘Asr. We estimated that he stood in the first two rak’ahs of Zuhr the duration it would take one to recite Surah Alif Lam Mim Tanzil [As Sajdah] and he stood half that time in the second two rak’ahs.

We estimated that he stood in the first two rak’ahs of ‘Asr for the duration he stood in the last two rak’ahs of Zuhr and he stood half that time in the last two rak’ahs of ‘Asr”

(Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 452)

See further explanation here

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar