And these verses entail censure of anyone who neglects any obligation of prayer, even if he outwardly performs it—for example, by failing to pray at its prescribed time or failing to fulfil its conditions and pillars, whether outward or inward acts. This is how the early generations explained them.

In the Tafsīr of ‘Abd ibn Humayd—and he also cited it from Ibn al-Mundhir in his Tafsīr through ‘Abd’s narration—it is reported: Rawh narrated to us from Sa‘īd, from Qatādah, concerning the words,

“and who carefully observe their prayers,”

that this means observing the ablution required for them, their prescribed times and their bowing.

Abū Bakr ibn al-Mundhir also reported in his Tafsīr, through Abū ‘Abd al-Rahmān, from ‘Abd Allāh, who said:

‘Abd Allāh was told, “Allah frequently mentions prayer in the Quran:

‘who are constant in their prayer,’

‘who are humble in their prayer,’

and ‘who carefully observe their prayer.’”

‘Abd Allāh replied, “That refers to observing their prescribed times.”

They said, “Abū ‘Abd al-Rahmān, we thought that referred only to abandoning prayer.”

He replied, “Abandoning it is disbelief.”

Sa‘īd ibn Mansūr reported: Abū Mu‘āwiyah narrated to us: al-A‘mash narrated to us from Muslim, from Masrūq, concerning Allah’s words,

“and who carefully observe their prayer.”

He said, “At their prescribed times.”

They said, “Abū ‘Abd al-Rahmān, we thought that referred only to abandoning prayer.”

He replied, “Abandoning it is disbelief.”

It was also reported through Sa‘īd ibn Abī Maryam that the words,

“yet are heedless of their prayer,”

mean neglecting its prescribed time.

He also narrated from Abū Thawr, from Ibn Jurayj, concerning the words,

“and who carefully observe their prayers,”

that these are the obligatory prayers, whereas those mentioned in Surah Sa’ala Sā’il are voluntary prayers. This is a weak opinion.