"But those firm in knowledge among them and the believers believe in what has been revealed to you, [O Muhammad], and what was revealed before you, and the observers of prayer and the givers of zakah." Qatadah said: Allah made an exception for those among them who believed in Allah, in what was revealed to them, and in what was revealed to the Prophet of Allah.
Muhammad said: There is a difference of opinion (f. 77) regarding the grammatical inflection (i'rab) of "and the observers of prayer" (wa al-muqimina al-salata). Some said: The meaning is: they believe in what was revealed to you, and in the observers of prayer; that is, they believe in the prophets who observed the prayer.
Others said: The meaning is: and mention the observers of prayer, and they are the givers of zakah."
﴿لَكِنِ الرَّاسِخُونَ فِي الْعِلْمِ مِنْهُمْ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَا أُنْزِلَ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ وَالْمُقِيمِينَ الصَّلَاة والمؤتون الزَّكَاة﴾ قَالَ قَتَادَة: اسْتثْنى الله مِنْهُم من كَانَ يُؤمن بِاللَّه وَمَا أنزل عَلَيْهِم، وَمَا أنزل على نَبِيَّ الله.
قَالَ مُحَمَّد: اخْتلف (ل ٧٧) القَوْل فِي إِعْرَاب ﴿وَالْمُقِيمِينَ الصَّلاةَ﴾ فَقَالَ بَعضهم: الْمَعْنى: يُؤمنُونَ بِمَا أنزل إِلَيْك، وبالمقيمين الصَّلَاة؛ أَي: ويؤمنون بالنبيين المقيمين الصَّلَاة.
وَقَالَ بَعضهم: الْمَعْنى: وَاذْكُر المقيمين الصَّلَاة، وهم المؤتون الزَّكَاة.
