This phrase translates to “the worst kind of destruction is for people who pray”.
Meaning of Wail:
“Wail” means “the worst kind of destruction”.
The word “wail” is used in the Quran to describe a part of Jahannam. In Hadith literature we find that “wail” is a place in Jahannam, that Jahannam itself is afraid of.
Understanding Fawailun:
The “tanveen” (“un”) present at the end of “wail” represents some kind of unknown horrible punishment that is beyond words.
Hence, the phrase “fawailun” means “Moreover, the worst kind of destruction that is beyond words”.
Musalleen:
“Musalleen” means “people who pray”.
The worst kind of destruction is for people who pray? Find out why!
What we are learning here is that praying alone isn’t enough to say if a person is good or bad. If someone cheats in business, hasn’t given his mahr to his wife, isn’t going to give inheritance to his daughter, is cheating his partner, hasn’t paid of any of his loans etc. i.e. does all kinds of lying, stealing, cheating etc. and still he prays then those kinds of people are the worst. There’s no one worse than him.
According to Ibn Abbas (radi allahu anhu) and others, this refers to the hypocrites who pray in public and do not pray in private.
Historical context of “Musalleen”:
The Quraysh also used to pray at the Kaaba. It was not like our Salah; they had their own prayers (mushrik prayers). They were called Musalleen. However, their congregation was different. The more the elite, the closer they got to sit to the Kaaba.
Meaning of Ayat #4
Moreover, the worst kind of destruction that is beyond words is for people who pray.