Translation of the meanings Ayah 238 Surah Al-Baqarah - English Translation - Dr. Waleed Bleyhesh Omary - The Noble Qur'an Encyclopedia

Ayah: 238

حَٰفِظُواْ عَلَى ٱلصَّلَوَٰتِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ٱلۡوُسۡطَىٰ وَقُومُواْ لِلَّهِ قَٰنِتِينَ

(238) Observe the Prayers^[417] – and ˹especially˺ the middle Prayer^[418] – and rise for Allah ˹consistently˺ devoutly.

[417] The five mandatory daily Prayers (al-Ṣalawāt al-khams) (cf. al-Ṭabarī, Ibn Kathīr, al-Saʿdī, Ibn ʿĀshūr). Prayers are mentioned in the midst of marital affair rulings, because of the hurtful and hard feelings divorce can leave in its wake. Hence, people are reminded of the Hereafter—by virtue of being vigilant in their Prayers. Their observance of these rulings and whereby they should not ‘overlook kindness’ among themselves is made surer by this reminder of accountability. Prayer in another aya is a deterrent against overindulgence: “Verily Prayer admonishes against vileness and loathsome acts” (29: 45), (cf. al-Samīn al-Ḥalabī, al-Durr al-Maṣūn, al-Biqāʿī, Naẓm al-Durar).
[418] The third, middle Prayer; namely, ṣalāt al-ʿaṣr. This aya shows how particularly meritorious this Prayer is. (al-Samīn al-Ḥalabī, al-Durr al-Maṣūn, al-Biqāʿī, Naẓm al-Durar)