التفسير التبليغي
(الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنْ صَلاتِهِمْ سَاهُونَ) [Those who are heedless of their prayers] (Quran 107:5)
Negligence in prayer is a source of evil deeds, because Allah, the Exalted and Mighty, mentioned in the Surah the denial of the religion, the repelling of the orphan, and the failure to encourage the feeding of the poor.
Heedlessness *about* prayer is the gateway to all these destructive acts.
What is meant by heedlessness here is neglecting it, being lazy in performing it, and paying little attention to it. This is the action of hypocrites, or the corrupt and devils among Muslims. It does not refer to the occasional forgetfulness that occurs in it due to the whispers of Satan or self-talk.
If it had said "in their prayers," the entire Ummah would have perished. So, praise be to Allah Who said (عَنْ صَلَاتِهِمْ) [of their prayers] and did not say "in their prayers."
It clarifies that they are heedless *of* it, not abandoning it entirely.
(سَاهُونَ) [heedless] means distracted, unmindful.
(الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنْ صَلَاتِهِمْ سَاهُونَ) [Those who are heedless of their prayers] are those who delay prayer beyond its prescribed time.
Al-Baghawi narrated that when the Prophet (peace be upon him) was asked about the verse, he said: "It is wasting time."
It is narrated from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with both of them) that he said: "They are the hypocrites who used to show off their prayers to people when they were present, and abandon them when they were absent, and they would withhold common necessities (from others)."
They neglected it and failed to observe its pillars, and this is due to their lack of concern for Allah's command.
They neglected prayer, which is the most important of all acts of obedience.
Source: التفسير التبليغي