"And seek help through patience and prayer," meaning: for prayer, for prayer has been singled out due to its status in the religion. Al-Hasan interpreted it as: Seek help through patience in all aspects of religion. Mujahid said: Patience here refers to fasting. It should be known that both are aids in the obedience of Allah.
Muhammad said: The root of patience (al-sabr) is restraint (al-habs), and the fasting person is called 'sabir' (patient/restrained) because he restrains himself from food and drink. "And indeed, it is difficult," meaning: prayer. "Except for the humble," and humility (khushu') is the fear that is firmly established in the heart.
﴿وَاسْتَعِينُوا بِالصبرِ وَالصَّلَاة﴾ أَي: على الصَّلاة، فَخص الصَّلاة لمكانها من الدِّين. تَفْسِير الحَسَن: اسْتَعِينُوا بِالصبرِ على الدِّين كُله. وَقَالَ مُجَاهِد: الصَّبْر - هَا هُنَا الصَّوْم؛ وليعلم أَنَّهُمَا عون على طَاعَة اللَّه.
قَالَ مُحَمَّد: وأصل الصَّبْر: الْحَبْس، وَإِنَّمَا سمي الصَّائِم صَابِرًا؛ لحبسه نَفسه عَنِ الْأكل وَالشرب. ﴿وَإِنَّهَا لكبيرة﴾ يَعْنِي: الصَّلاة. ﴿إِلا عَلَى الْخَاشِعِينَ﴾ الْخُشُوع هُوَ: الْخَوْف الثَّابِت فِي الْقلب.
