It is narrated from Hazrat Zaid bin Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to perform the Zuhr prayer during the midday heat, and for the noble companions (may Allah be pleased with them) there was no prayer more difficult than this. Upon this, the following verse was revealed: "Guard strictly all the prayers, especially the middle prayer," and he said, "There are two prayers before it and two prayers after it."