What is the meaning of “and the remembrance of Allah is greater,” and does it mean that remembrance is better than prayer, even though prayer is the greatest form of remembrance? And why does Allah differentiate between them?

The Almighty says: (Recite what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish prayer. Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allah is greater. And Allah knows that which you do.) Scholars have differed regarding the meaning of (and the remembrance of Allah is greater). Some said: Allah's remembrance of you is greater than your remembrance of Him, or that the remembrance of Allah is better than everything else, or that the remembrance of Allah in prayer is greater than its prevention of immorality and wrongdoing. The most plausible view is that the occurrence of the remembrance of Allah through prayer is greater than its role in prohibiting immorality and wrongdoing. Prayer encompasses both the abandonment of immoral acts and the remembrance of Allah, which is the greater objective. Thus, prayer involves averting the disliked and attaining the beloved, and the attainment of the beloved is greater than the aversion of the disliked. The verse does not indicate that mere remembrance is superior to prayer, for prayer itself, and the remembrance of Allah within it, is among the greatest and most magnificent forms of remembrance. Indeed, prayer was legislated for the purpose of remembering Allah.