TAFSEER AS-SA'DI

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Here Allah SWT commands us to establish prayer in full "at the two ends of the day" that is, at the beginning and end of the day. This includes fajr, dhuhr and 'asr prayers. "and in some hours of the night" this includes maghrib and 'isha' prayers, as well as qiyam al-layl (voluntary prayers at night), which are also one of the means by which a person draws closer to Allah SWT. "Verily good deeds erase bad deeds" that is, these five prayers, and whatever is added to them of voluntary prayers, are among the greatest of good deeds and - in addition to being good deeds - they bring one closer to Allah and earn reward. Hence they erase and cancel out bad deeds, which in this case refers to minor sins.

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَقُولُ ‏"‏ الصَّلَوَاتُ الْخَمْسُ وَالْجُمُعَةُ إِلَى الْجُمُعَةِ وَرَمَضَانُ إِلَى رَمَضَانَ مُكَفِّرَاتٌ مَا بَيْنَهُنَّ إِذَا اجْتَنَبَ الْكَبَائِرَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Abu Hurayrah (RAA) reports that Allah’s Messenger (SAW) used to say:

"The five daily prayers, from one Jumu'ah to another, and from one Ramadan to another, expiate whatever (sins) come in between, so long as major sins are avoided."

Sahih Muslim 233c, Book 2, Hadith 19

In fact, it is also specified by the verse in Soorat an-Nisa', in which Allah SWT says:

إِن تَجْتَنِبُوا۟ كَبَآئِرَ مَا تُنْهَوْنَ عَنْهُ نُكَفِّرْ عَنكُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتِكُمْ وَنُدْخِلْكُم مُّدْخَلًا كَرِيمًا

If you abstain from the major (sins) out of what you have been forbidden to do, We will erase your (minor) sins for you and admit you to a place of honor (Paradise). (an-Nisa' 4:31)

"This" it may be that this refers to all that is mentioned above of the obligation to adhere to the Straight Path and not transgress and go beyond that, and not to incline towards those who do wrong, as well as the command to establish prayer and the explanation that good deeds erase bad deeds. All of that is "a reminder for those who pay heed" from which they understand what Allah SWT has enjoined upon them and what He has forbidden, and they comply with those instructions which lead to good results and ward off evil and bad consequences. But these commands require effort and patience in order to comply with them, hence Allah SWT says:

وَٱصْبِرْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

And be steadfast, for indeed, Allah does not allow to be lost the reward of those who do good. (11:115)

"And be patient and steadfast" that is, control yourself and compel yourself to obey Allah SWT and refrain from disobeying Him; adhere to that and persist in it, and do not falter. "for verily Allah will not cause the reward of those who do good to be lost"; rather Allah SWT accepts from them the best of their deeds and will reward them for the best of what they used to do. This is great encouragement to adhere to patience which will motivate people of weak resolve to remember the reward of Allah SWT every time they falter.