Explanation of the interpretation of the saying of Allah the Exalted: "Woe to those who pray"
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Q344: The questioner S. A. K., an Egyptian national working in Iraq, asks: What is the interpretation of the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Al-Ma'un 107:4-7]?
A344: "Wail" is a word of punishment and threat, and a severe warning. It has also been said that it is a valley in Hellfire:[Al-Ma'un 107:4-7], meaning those who delay the prayer from its time, such as praying Fajr after the sun has risen, or praying Zuhr at the time of 'Asr, or 'Asr at the time of Maghrib, and so on. The one who takes the prayer out of its time is considered negligent of it and a waster of it, as in the other verse: [Maryam 19:59]. Thus, wasting the prayer and being negligent of it, for which the warning was mentioned in these two noble verses, is taking it out of its time without a valid legal excuse. This is because Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, says: [An-Nisa 4:103],
That is: they are obligatory at their prescribed times, and it is not permissible to perform them outside their times without a valid legal excuse. And His saying, the Exalted:[Al-Ma'un 107:6-7] means that they show off to people with their deeds; they seek the people, performing righteous deeds not for the sake of Allah, but for the sake of the people, such as one who gives charity in order for people to praise him, or prays, or seeks knowledge, or performs any of the acts of worship, not out of desire for obedience and reward, but so that people will praise him and speak well of him. This is the very essence of showing off (riya'), and this nullifies the deed, as Allah, Glorified and Exalted, said: [Al-Kahf 18:110], and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Bulugh al-Maram 16:48 He was asked about it, and he said: It is showing off (riya'), and it is minor shirk (associating partners with Allah), so it is a serious matter.
It is a severe characteristic of the hypocrites, for as Allah, the Exalted, said:[An-Nisa 4:142], showing off (riya') is a dangerous disease and a severe illness. It is obligatory for the Muslim to be sincere in his work for Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and not to intend showing off (riya') or fame in his work. As for those who withhold the small things of life, the meaning of "small things of life" (al-ma'un) is lending; because lending to those in need is an act of obedience and kindness, for which a person is rewarded. So the one who withholds a loan from a needy person, while there is no harm to him in lending it, is subject to this great warning. Al-ma'un was interpreted to include things such as the pot, the axe, and the bucket, and everything people need for their affairs that they are compelled to do. So lending to those in need, if it does not result in harm to the lender, and he is in a state of abundance regarding it, then lending it is an act of obedience, and withholding it is what is warned against in this noble verse.
(4) So woe to those who pray (5) [But] who are heedless of their prayer - (6) Those who make show [of their deeds] (7) And withhold [simple] assistance.
فَوَيْلٌ لِلْمُصَلِّينَ (4) الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنْ صَلاَتِهِمْ سَاهُونَ (5) الَّذِينَ هُمْ يُرَاءُونَ (6) وَيَمْنَعُونَ الْمَاعُونَA344: "Wail" is a word of punishment and threat, and a severe warning. It has also been said that it is a valley in Hellfire:
(4) So woe to those who pray (5) [But] who are heedless of their prayer - (6) Those who make show [of their deeds] (7) And withhold [simple] assistance.
فَوَيْلٌ لِلْمُصَلِّينَ (4) الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنْ صَلاَتِهِمْ سَاهُونَ (5) الَّذِينَ هُمْ يُرَاءُونَ (6) وَيَمْنَعُونَ الْمَاعُونَBut there came after them successors who neglected prayer and pursued desires; so they are going to meet evil -
فَخَلَفَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ أَضَاعُوا الصَّلاَةَ وَاتَّبَعُوا الشَّهَوَاتِ فَسَوْفَ يَلْقَوْنَ غَيًّاAnd when you have completed the prayer, remember Allah standing, sitting, or [lying] on your sides. But when you become secure, re-establish [regular] prayer. Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.
فَإِذَا قَضَيْتُمُ الصَّلاَةَ فَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ قِيَامًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَى جُنُوبِكُمْ فَإِذَا اطْمَأْنَنْتُمْ فَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلاَةَ إِنَّ الصَّلاَةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَابًا مَوْقُوتًاThat is: they are obligatory at their prescribed times, and it is not permissible to perform them outside their times without a valid legal excuse. And His saying, the Exalted:
(6) Those who make show [of their deeds] (7) And withhold [simple] assistance.
الَّذِينَ هُمْ يُرَاءُونَ (6) وَيَمْنَعُونَ الْمَاعُونَSay, "I am only a man like you, to whom has been revealed that your god is one God. So whoever would hope for the meeting with his Lord - let him do righteous work and not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone."
قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِثْلُكُمْ يُوحَى إِلَيَّ أَنَّمَا إِلَهُكُمْ إِلَهٌ وَاحِدٌ فَمَنْ كَانَ يَرْجُوا لِقَاءَ رَبِّهِ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلاً صَالِحًا وَلاَ يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَدًاThe thing I fear most for you is the lesser shirk
أخوف ما أخاف عليكم الشرك الأصغرIt is a severe characteristic of the hypocrites, for as Allah, the Exalted, said:
Indeed, the hypocrites [think to] deceive Allah, but He is deceiving them. And when they stand for prayer, they stand lazily, showing [themselves to] the people and not remembering Allah except a little,
إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ يُخَادِعُونَ اللَّهَ وَهُوَ خَادِعُهُمْ وَإِذَا قَامُوا إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ قَامُوا كُسَالَى يُرَاءُونَ النَّاسَ وَلاَ يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.