وَأَقِيمُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُواْ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَٱرۡكَعُواْ مَعَ ٱلرَّـٰكِعِينَ
And maintain the prayer, and give the zakat, and bow along with those who bow [in prayer].
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 2:43
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 2:43] Due to the system of optional asceticism among the Jews and the Christians, only a very few could adopt the life of piety and devotion (essential for a human being to be initiated into the realm of spiritual bliss), leaving the rest of the majority of the people to sink deep into hypocritical ritual practices. Islam, on the other hand, educates every human being, through salat, to keep their involvement with the material gains and enjoyment at a reasonable level and give sufficient time to the worship of Allah in order to reach the heights of spiritual glory, which in fact is the purpose of existence in this world. As explained in the commentary of verse 3 of this surah, salat has been made obligatory for all believers because, on account of its style and substance, man gets rid of pride and arrogance. Zakat, giving in the way of Allah, has also been dealt with in detail therein. These injunctions make every man join the stream of worshippers and seekers of nearness to the ultimate truth. (see commentary for verse 4)