And when knowledge was established by what preceded of the ruling that humanity is a place of incapacity and deficiency, he followed that with the highest expiation for what incapacity necessitates and what lethargy and weakness lead to from minor sins, and the most comprehensive and most conducive to uprightness. This indicates that after faith, it is the best of acts of worship. So Allah, the Most High, said: ﴿And establish prayer﴾ (p-395), meaning perform it in a balanced manner ﴿at the two ends of the day﴾, in the morning and the afternoon, as it was made obligatory in Mecca at the beginning before the Night Journey. It is possible that with that, the noon prayer is intended, as it is from the second end. ﴿And in the early hours﴾, meaning: groups, degrees, and times, the plural of zulfah. ﴿From the night﴾ could refer to the night prayer, as it was obligatory in the early days of Islam. It could also refer to the Maghrib and Isha prayers along with the Witr or the night prayer. Then he explained that by saying: ﴿Indeed, good deeds﴾, meaning all acts of obedience, including prayer and others based on the foundation of faith, ﴿remove the evil deeds﴾, meaning the minor sins. As for the major sins [which are referred to as the great sins and similar], it has been previously mentioned in the story of Shu'ayb, peace be upon him, at his saying: ﴿Then turn to Him in repentance﴾ [Hud: 90], that nothing expiates them except repentance due to what is implied in them of negligence regarding the religion. Avoiding them does not expiate except if it is done with a good intention, as I understand from the form of the causative verb in His saying: ﴿If you avoid﴾ [An-Nisa: 31]. Al-Bukhari narrated in the tafsir from Ibn Mas'ud, may Allah be pleased with him, that a man kissed a woman, then he came to the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, and mentioned that to him, and Allah revealed to him: ﴿And establish prayer at the two ends of the day﴾ - the verse. The man said: Is this for me? He said: For whoever acts upon it from my nation. This hadith supports the statement of Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with both of them, that this verse is from this Meccan and Medinan surah.

And when this was completed in this highest manner and initial arrangement, Allah, the Most High, said (p-396) praising it so that its measure may be known and adhered to: ﴿That﴾, meaning the high matter that preceded of encouragement and deterrence, consolation, and teaching of the disease and the remedy for salvation from misery, ﴿is a reminder﴾, meaning: a great reminder ﴿for those who remember﴾, meaning: for those who have the capacity for remembrance and attentiveness with a present heart, clear thought, and penetrating understanding.