Tafsir of Maryam 19:55

He would occupy himself with what is most important, which is that a man should begin, after perfecting his own self, with the perfecting of those who are closest to him. Allah the Almighty said: "And warn your nearest kinsmen," and "Enjoin upon your people prayer," and "Protect yourselves and your families from a Fire." Or, he intended the perfection of all by perfecting them, because they are models to be emulated.

Al-Hasan said: The intended meaning of "his people" (his ahl) is his nation, because the Prophet is in the position of a father to his nation. This is supported by the fact that in the codex of 'Abdullah [ibn Mas'ud] it reads: "And he used to enjoin upon his nation."

Regarding "prayer and zakat," it is said that it carries its well-known meaning. It is also said that "zakat" means absolute charity (sadaqah). It is narrated that he, peace be upon him, used to command his people to pray by night and to give charity by day. It is also said that it means the purification and cleansing of the soul.

This is due to the uprightness of his words and his deeds. It is a passive participle, originally marḍūw (مرضوو), which underwent morphological change (i'lāl) by turning the wāw into a yā’ because it is at the end of the word following a quiescent wāw. Thus, the wāw and the yā’ gathered, and one of them was preceded by a quiescent letter, so the wāw was changed into a yā’, and the yā’ was assimilated into the yā’, and the ḍammah was changed into a kasrah.

Ibn Abi ‘Ablah recited it as marḍūw (مرضوا) without morphological change. It is narrated from the Arabs that they said: "A forgotten land (arḍ mansiyyah and mansūwah)," which is that which is irrigated by water-drawing camels.