WE HAVE ALREADY discussed what one should say after Ẓuhr and similarly after ‘Aṣr. It is mustaḥabb to perform abundant dhikr after ‘Aṣr. This is more emphasised because it is ‘the middle ṣalāh’ [referred to in Qur’ān] according to some groups of earlier and later ‘ulamā’. Likewise, it is mustaḥabb to take more care to perform dhikr after the ṣalāh of Ṣubḥ. It is these two prayers which are most soundly said to be ‘the middle ṣalāh’. It is mustaḥabb to do a great deal of dhikr after ‘Aṣr and even more towards the end of the day.
Allah 
says: “And celebrate the praises of your Lord before the rising of the sun and before its setting.” [1].
says: “And celebrate the praises of your Lord before the rising of the sun and before its setting.” [1].
Wa sabbiḥ bi-ḥamdi Rabbika qabla ṭulū‘i-sh-shamsi wa qabla ghurūbihā.
Allah also says: “And celebrate the praises of your Lord in the evening and in the morning.” [2].
also says: “And celebrate the praises of your Lord in the evening and in the morning.” [2].
Wa sabbiḥ bi-ḥamdi Rabbika bi-l-‘ashiyyi wa-l-ibkār.
Allah also says: “And remember your Lord in your soul with fear and humility, and invoke [Him] without speaking loudly, in the mornings and evenings.” [3].
also says: “And remember your Lord in your soul with fear and humility, and invoke [Him] without speaking loudly, in the mornings and evenings.” [3].
Wa-dhkur Rabbaka fī nafsika taḍarru‘an wa khīfatan wa dūna-l-jahri mina-l-qawli bi-l-ghuduwwi wa-l-āṣāl.
Allah says: “In. . .which He is glorified in the mornings and in the evenings, by men whom neither trade nor sale can divert from the remembrance of Allah.” [4].
says: “In. . .which He is glorified in the mornings and in the evenings, by men whom neither trade nor sale can divert from the remembrance of Allah.” [4].
Yusabbiḥu lahū fīhā bi-l-ghuduwwi wa-l-āṣāli rijālun lā tulhīhim tijāratun wa lā bay‘un ‘an dhikri-llāh.
We have seen previously that ‘evening’ (āṣāl) is the time between ‘Aṣr and Maghrib.
We relate in the book of Ibn as-Sunnī with a weak isnād from Anas 
, who reported that the Messenger of Allah 
said: “To sit with people who remember Allah from the ṣalāh of ‘Aṣr until sunset is something dearer to me than freeing eight children of Ismā‘īl.” [5].
, who reported that the Messenger of Allah said: “To sit with people who remember Allah from the ṣalāh of ‘Aṣr until sunset is something dearer to me than freeing eight children of Ismā‘īl.” [5].References
[1] Qur’ān 20:130.
[2] Qur’ān 40:55.
[3] Qur’ān 7:205.
[4] Qur’ān 24:36.
[5] Ibn as-Sunnī (675).