ٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ عَن صَلَاتِهِمْ سَاهُونَ 5
Translations
[But] who are heedless of their prayer -
Transliteration
alladhīna hum 'an salātihim sāhūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes those who are heedless and negligent of their prayers, treating them with indifference and carelessness. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as referring to those who neglect the obligatory prayers either by missing them entirely or performing them without proper concentration, humility, and presence of heart (khushu'). This characteristic marks a severe spiritual deficiency and stands as a sign of one's lack of faith and disconnection from Allah.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Ma'un, a Meccan surah that addresses the hypocrisy of those who claim faith but lack genuine righteousness and social compassion. The surah contextually describes those whose deeds contradict their beliefs, and this particular ayah highlights how prayer neglect is a fundamental marker of such hypocrisy, as prayer is the pillar most directly connected to one's relationship with Allah.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The covenant between us and them is prayer; so whoever abandons it has disbelieved' (Sunan At-Tirmidhi 2621, authenticated by scholars). Additionally, 'The first matter that the slave will be called to account for on the Day of Judgment is the prayer' (Sunan At-Tirmidhi 413).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a sobering reminder that regular, attentive prayer is non-negotiable in Islam and reflects the sincerity of one's faith. For believers today, it calls for conscious self-examination regarding not just the performance of prayer, but the quality of presence and devotion brought to each prayer.