“They (the Prophets) were succeeded by a people who neglected the Prayers and pursued their lusts. They shall presently meet with their doom, except those who repent and believe and act righteously. Such shall enter Paradise and shall not be wronged at all.
(Al-Qur’ān – 19:59-60)
These verses of the Holy Qur’ān chastise those like the earlier nations who either gave up observing Prayers or became indifferent or negligent to them. In fact, negligence and abandoning Prayer are the very first step in one’s slide towards their decline. For Prayer is the primary link between man and God. It keeps a person constantly in touch with God, during all hours of the day and night. It prevents a person from moving away from a life of devotion, worship and obedience of Him. As soon as this bond is broken, man increasingly begins to draw away from God. This may even happen to such an extent that not only is man’s relationship with God reduced to naught on a practical level but also on an intellectual level. Following one’s desires rather than truth results from the weakening of one’s God-consciousness. It is for this reason that the Qur’ān expounds here a general rule: that the corruption in a nation which originally followed a Prophet began the moment that nation abandoned Prayer.
These Qur’ānic verses say that those, who give up Prayers or become indifferent or negligent to them, will meet with their doom. Only those persons who repent and believe and act righteously will be exempted from this Divine chastisement.