Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, narrated that he asked Ibn Shihab Zuhri about the interpretation of this verse: «﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَاةِ مِنْ يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَاسْعَوْا إِلَى ذِكْرِ اللّٰهِ﴾» So Ibn Shihab replied that Sayyiduna Umar bin Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, used to recite this verse as follows: «‏‏‏‏”إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَاةِ مِنْ يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَامْضُوا إِلَى ذِكْرِ اللّٰهِ.“» ‏‏‏‏

Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, said: By "Sa'y" (striving) is meant action and deed in the Book of Allah. Allah, Glorious and Exalted, says: «﴿وإِذَا تَوَلَّى سَعَى فِي الْأَرْضِ﴾» meaning, "When he turns away, he strives throughout the land to cause corruption." And Allah, Glorious and Exalted, says: «﴿وَأَمَّا مَنْ جَاءَكَ يَسْعَى وَهُوَ يَخْشَى﴾» meaning, "Who comes to you working and striving for his Lord." And Allah, Glorious and Exalted, says: «﴿ثُمَّ أَدْبَرَ يَسْعَى﴾» "Then he turned away, striving to cause corruption." And Allah, Glorious and Exalted, says: «﴿إِنَّ سَعْيَكُمْ لَشَتَّى﴾» "Your deeds are of different kinds."

Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, said: By this "sa'y" is also meant action and deed, not walking with the feet, nor running, nor walking quickly.