Does the letter “fa” in His, the Almighty’s, saying: “So woe to those who pray” mean that the characteristics of the denier of religion in the preceding verses are the characteristics of those who are heedless of prayer, and that God’s threat to them aims to ensure the happiness of His loyal servants?

The mentioned characteristics are traits of the hypocrites, who were distinguished by their corrupt belief, which is the denial of the Day of Judgment, and by their bad manners and harshness in dealings. Allah Almighty has promised them woe for these abominations, including neglecting prayer, showing off, and stinginess. Thus, they combined ill-treatment of Allah with ill-treatment of creation, as stated in His verses: "Indeed, the hypocrites [think to] deceive Allah, but He is deceiving them. And when they stand for prayer, they stand lazily, showing [themselves to] the people and not remembering Allah except a little" and His saying: "The hypocrite men and hypocrite women are of one another. They enjoin what is wrong and forbid what is right and withhold their hands. They have forgotten Allah, so He has forgotten them. Indeed, the hypocrites are the defiantly disobedient." As for the letter 'fa' mentioned in the verse, it is the 'fa' of causation, arranging the imprecation of woe upon them.