۞ فَخَلَفَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ أَضَاعُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَٱتَّبَعُوا۟ ٱلشَّهَوَٰتِ ۖ فَسَوْفَ يَلْقَوْنَ غَيًّا 59
Translations
But there came after them successors [i.e., later generations] who neglected prayer and pursued desires; so they are going to meet evil -
Transliteration
Fa-khallafa min ba'dihim khalfun ada'ū as-salāta wa-ttaba'ū ash-shahawāt, fa-sawfa yalqawna ghayya
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes generations that came after the righteous predecessors who neglected prayer (salah) and pursued worldly desires and lusts (shahawat). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that the abandonment of salah is a sign of spiritual corruption, while following desires without restraint leads to moral degradation. The consequence mentioned—'ghayya' (ruin, evil, or painful punishment)—is a severe warning of the spiritual and worldly consequences of such behavior.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Maryam's discussion of the righteous prophets and their legacies. The context addresses the decline of faith among subsequent generations after the prophets, reflecting a recurring Quranic theme about humanity's tendency to deviate from divine guidance. This warning is part of the broader Meccan period message about accountability and the consequences of forsaking divine commandments.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The first matter that the slave will be judged about on the Day of Judgment is prayer' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 413). Additionally, 'Whoever abandons prayer has disbelieved' (Sunan Ibn Majah 1079) emphasizes the central importance of salah in Islamic practice.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a powerful reminder that spiritual neglect, particularly the abandonment of prayer and pursuit of unchecked desires, inevitably leads to ruin in both worlds. For believers today, it underscores the necessity of preserving salah as the foundation of faith and maintaining moral discipline against worldly temptations.