عنْ عَليِّ بْنِ أَبي طَالبٍ رَضِيَ اللّهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: كانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللّهُ عَلَيْهِ وسَلَّمَ يُصَلِّي قَبْلَ العَصْرِ أَرْبَعَ رَكَعَاتٍ، يَفْصِلُ بَيْنَهُنَّ بِالتَّسْلِيمِ عَلَى المَلائِكَةِ المُقَرَّبِينَ وَمَنْ تَبِعَهُمْ مِنَ المُسْلِمِينَ وَالمُؤْمِنِينَ. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَقَالَ: حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ.
Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would pray four rak'ahs before Asr, separating between them with the taslim upon the angels brought near and those of the Muslims and believers who followed them. Reported by al-Tirmidhi, who said: a hasan (good) hadith.
الشرح · explanation
بالتسليم: أي قوله: السلام عليكم ورحمة الله، وهو التحلل من الصلاة. ومن تبعهم: أي من تبع الملائكة في توحيد اللّهِ سبحانه وتعالى.
"With the taslim": that is, his saying "Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah," which is the concluding act of the prayer. "Those who followed them": that is, those who followed the angels in affirming the oneness of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He).
الدروس · lessons
استحباب الصلاة أربعا قبل العصر، وهي ليست من السنن المؤكدة. أنّ في صلاة سنّة العصر الفصل بالتسليم بين كل ركعتين وهو الأفضل، تأسيًا بفعل النَّبِيّ صلّى اللّهُ عليه وسلّم.
The recommendation of praying four rak'ahs before Asr, though it is not among the emphasized sunnahs. That in the sunnah prayer of Asr one separates with the taslim between each pair of rak'ahs, and this is preferable, in emulation of the practice of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).