The difference between a Man and a Male
"The Quran clarified that there is a distinction between saying 'this is a male' (dhakar) and 'this is a man' (rajul).
This is made clear in Surat An-Nur, right after Allah Almighty says: 'Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth...' down to 'Allah guides to His light whom He wills.' If someone asks: 'Where can this light be found, O Lord?', Allah answers in the very next verse:
'[This light is] in houses which Allah has ordered to be raised and that His name be remembered therein; exalting Him therein in the mornings and the evenings are [true] men.'
We know they are true men because Allah described them as such from above seven heavens. What are their attributes?
'Men whom neither commerce nor sale distracts from the remembrance of Allah and performance of prayer and giving of zakah. They fear a Day when the hearts and eyes will tremble—that Allah may reward them according to the best of what they did and increase them from His bounty.'
Notice that they are inside the mosques, remembering Allah, yet they still fear Him. They combine doing good with humility and fear of Allah.
It doesn't mean others aren't men, but Allah highlighted them with this description: 'Men whom neither commerce nor sale distracts.' This is why congregational prayer (jama'ah) in the mosque is specifically required for men. Attending prayer, being eager for it, and reflecting on this noble verse brings immense virtue, blessing, and great reward.
Another related point: we all seek a transaction/commerce that never fails, right? Worldly commerce can fail, gain, or lose. But when Allah describes a transaction as one that will never fail, it truly never perishes:
'Indeed, those who recite the Book of Allah, establish prayer, and spend out of what We have provided them, secretly and publicly, hope for a transaction that will never fail—that He may pay them their rewards in full and increase them from His bounty. Indeed, He is Forgiving and Appreciative.'
Forgiving of our sins, and appreciative of our good deeds."
