The disbelievers were criminals and deviated from the Path of Islam and Faith. They refused to worship and bow down to their Creator Who has bestowed His Grace upon them. In fact, prayer is the sign of submission and humbleness to Allah (swt). Some scholars, as Ibn ’Abbas said: ‘This will be said to them on the Day of Judgement, when they are called to bow but they will not be able to do so’. In this connection, Allah (swt) says:
يَوْمَ يُكْشَفُ عَن سَاقٍ وَيُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى السُّجُودِ فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ (42) خَاشِعَةً أَبْصَارُهُمْ تَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌ ۖ وَقَدْ كَانُوا يُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى السُّجُودِ وَهُمْ سَالِمُونَ
(The Day the shin will be uncovered and they are invited to prostration but the disbelievers will not be able, (42) Their eyes humbled, humiliation will cover them. And they used to be invited to prostration while they were sound.) (Al-Qalam: 42-43)