As for remembrance after leaving the prayer, it is, as ‘Ā’ishah—may Allah be pleased with her—said, like wiping a mirror after polishing it. Prayer is light: it polishes the heart as a mirror is polished, and remembrance afterwards is like wiping that mirror. Allah Most High says:
“So when you have finished, exert yourself.”
“And direct your longing to your Lord.”
It has been said: When you have finished your worldly occupations, exert yourself in worship and direct your longing to your Lord. This is the better-known of the two interpretations.
Shurayh the judge went out to a group of weavers who were playing on an Eid day. He asked, “Why are you playing?”
They replied, “We have some free time.”
He said, “Is this what someone with free time has been commanded to do?” He then recited the words of Allah Most High:
“So when you have finished, exert yourself.”
“And direct your longing to your Lord.”
This accords with His words:
“O you wrapped in your garment!”
“Stand in prayer through the night, except for a little,”
up to His words:
“Indeed, rising at night brings greater harmony and more upright speech.”
“Indeed, during the day you have lengthy occupations.”
That is, you go about your affairs during the day, whereas at night you are free.
According to the sounder of the two interpretations, rising at night refers specifically to rising after sleep. The verb nasha’a is used when someone rises after sleeping. When a person rises after sleep, his heart is in greater harmony with his tongue, because nothing distracts his heart and sleep has dispelled the effects of the day’s activity. His speech is also more upright.
It has also been said that “So when you have finished” means finished praying; “exert yourself” means in supplication; and “direct your longing to your Lord.” Whether or not this interpretation is correct, it precludes supplication at the end of the prayer, especially since the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—is the one addressed by this command, and he must therefore carry out what Allah has commanded him to do.