Tafsir of Maryam 19:59

They were succeeded by Wicked People and Good People Allah says:

فخلف من بعدهم خلف أضاعوا الصﻼة واتبعوا الشهوات

فسوف يلقون غيا

Then, there has succeeded them a posterity who have lost the Salah and have followed lusts. So they will meet Ghaiy. After Allah mentioned the party of blessed ones -- the Prophets and those who followed them by maintaining the limits set by Allah and His commandments, fulfilling what Allah ordered and avoiding His prohibitions -- then He mentions,

خلف من بعدهم خلف

(there has succeeded them a posterity). This means later generations.

أضاعوا الصﻼة

who have lost Salah, Losing their prayers is when they do not consider the prayers obligatory. Therefore they lose, because the prayer is the pillar and foundation of the religion. It is the best of the servants' deeds. Thus, these people will occupy themselves with worldly desires and delights, and they will be pleased with the life of this world. They will be tranquil and at ease in the worldly appetites. Therefore, these people will meet with Ghaiy, which means loss on the Day of Resurrection. Al-Awza`i reported from Musa bin Sulayman, who reported from Al-Qasim bin Mukhaymirah that he said concerning Allah's statement,

فخلف من بعدهم خلف أضاعوا الصﻼة

(Then, there has succeeded them a posterity who have lost the Salah), "This means that they will not keep up with the proper times of the prayer, because if it meant complete abandonment of the prayer, this would be disbelief.'' It is also reported that it was said to Ibn Mas`ud, "Allah often mentions the prayer in the Qur'an. He says,

الذين هم عن صلتهم ساهون

Those who neglect their Salah. (107:5) And He says,

على صﻼتهم دآيمون

Those who remain constant in their Salah. (70:23) And He says,

على صﻼتهم يحافظون

Who guard their Salah.'' (23:9) Then, Ibn Mas`ud said, "This means at its designated times.'' The people said, "We thought that this was referring to the abandonment of the prayer.'' He replied, "That would be disbelief.'' Masruq said, "No one who guards the five daily prayers will be written among the heedless. In their neglect is destruction. Their neglect is delaying them past their fixed times.'' Al-Awza`i reported from Ibrahim bin Zayd that Umar bin Abdul-`Aziz recited the Ayah,

فخلف من بعدهم خلف أضاعوا الصﻼة واتبعوا الشهوات

فسوف يلقون غيا

Then, there has succeeded them a posterity who have lost the Salah and have followed lusts. So they will meet Ghayy. Then, he said, "Their loss was not their abandonment of the prayers, but it was by not offering them during their proper and prescribed times.'' Allah said,

فسوف يلقون غيا

So they will meet Ghayy. Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from Ibn Abbas that he said, "This means loss.'' Qatadah said, "This means evil.'' Sufyan Ath-Thawri, Shu`bah and Muhammad bin Ishaq all reported from Abu Ishaq As-Sabi`i, who reported from Abu Ubaydah, who reported from Abdullah bin Mas`ud that he said,

فسوف يلقون غيا

(So they will meet Ghayy), "This is a valley in the Hellfire which is very deep and its food is filthy.'' Al-A`mash reported from Ziyad, who reported from Abu Iyad, who commented Allah's statement,

فسوف يلقون غيا

(So they will meet Ghayy), He said, "This is a valley in Hell made of puss and blood.'' Allah said,