Tafsir of Al-A'la 87:14

{He has certainly succeeded who purifies himself} He has cleansed himself of polytheism and sins; or he has purified himself for prayer; or he has increased in piety—derived from zakāh, which means growth; or it is a verbal form derived from zakāh, similar to tassadaqa (to give charity) from sadaqah.

{And prays} Meaning the five daily prayers, similar to His saying: {Righteousness is not that you turn your faces...} (Al-Baqarah: 177).

It is narrated from Ibn Mas‘ūd: "May Allah have mercy on a person who gives charity and prays."

From ‘Alī (may Allah be pleased with him): It refers to giving Zakat al-Fitr. He said: "I would not mind if I found nothing in my record other than this," due to His saying: {He has certainly succeeded who purifies himself}—meaning he gave Zakat al-Fitr, then proceeded to the prayer ground, performed the Eid prayer, and mentioned the name of his Lord, meaning he recited the opening Takbir.

This is used as evidence for:

1. The obligation of the opening Takbir.
2. That it is not part of the prayer itself, because the prayer is conjoined to it.
3. That the opening is valid with any of His names (Mighty and Majestic is He).

From Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with them): He remembered his return and his standing before his Lord, so he prayed to Him.

From al-Dahḥāk: He mentioned the name of his Lord on the way to the prayer ground, then performed the Eid prayer.

{But you prefer the worldly life} Thus, you do not do that which would bring you success. It is also recited as yu’thirūn (they prefer) in the third person. The first reading is supported by the reading of Ibn Mas‘ūd: "But you (all) prefer."

{While the Hereafter is better and more lasting} It is superior in its essence, more blissful, and more enduring.

From ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him): "The worldly life in comparison to the Hereafter is but like the twitch of a rabbit’s nose."

{Indeed, this is in the former scriptures, the scriptures of Abraham and Moses}