The sincere Muslim performs all obligatory deeds and adheres to the pillars of Islam completely and devotedly. The true Muslim does not slacken, nor does it half-heartedly or seek excuses not to do it. So, he or she establishes prayer, performing each of the five daily prayers on time, for the daily prayer is the pillar of Islam – for whoever establishes prayer establishes faith, and whoever neglects prayer destroys the faith.

Prayer is the best of deeds, as is made clear in the hadith narrated by Ibn Mas’ud (ra) in which he said:” I asked the Messenger of Allah:’ What deed is most loved by Allah?’ He said,’ To offer each prayer as soon as it is due.’ I ask him,’ Then what?’ He said,’ Treating one’s parents with honour and respect.’ I asked him,’ Then what?’ He said,’ Jihad for the sake of Allah.’” (Bukhari and Muslim)

Prayer is so important because it is a direct link between the servant and his Lord, in which he distances himself from the concerns of daily life and focuses entirely on his Lord, asking him for help, guidance, and perseverance to continue along the straight path.

So it is hardly surprising that prayer is considered to be the best of deeds, because it is the source from which the believer may replenish his taqwa and the spring in whose pure water he may clean himself of his sins.

Abu Hurairah (ra) said:” I heard the Messenger of Allah saying:’ What would you think if there were a river running by the door of any of you, and he bathed in it five times every day, would any trace of dirt be left on him?’ The people said,’ There would be no trace of dirt on him.’ He said:’ This is like the five daily prayers, through which Allah erases sin.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

Jabir (ra) said:” The Messenger of Allah said:’ The five daily prayers are like a deep river flowing by the door of any of you, in which he bathes five times each day.’” (Muslim)

Ibn Mas’ud (ra) said,” A man kissed a woman, then he came to the Prophet and told him what he had done. Then Allah revealed the verse:’ And establish regular prayers at the two ends of the day and at the approaches of the night: for those things that are good remove those that are evil.”  The man said,’ Does it apply to me?’ The Prophet (saw) said:’ It applies to all of my ummah.”’ (Bukhari and Muslim)

Abu Hurairah (ra) said that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said:” The five daily prayers, from Friday to Friday, are expiation for the sins committed in the time between prayers, so long as no major sins are committed.” (Muslim)

Uthman Ibn Affan (ra) said:” I heard the Messenger of Allah (saw) saying:’ There is no Muslim man who, when the times for prayer comes, performs ablution properly, concentrates on his prayer and bows correctly, but the prayer will be an expiation for the sins committed before it, so long as no major sin has been committed. This is the case until the end of time.’” (Muslim)

The devout Muslim tries to pray in the first congregation in the mosque whenever he can, because the Prophet Muhammad (saw) told us that:” Prayer offered in congregation is twenty-seven times better than prayer offered individually.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

The Prophet (saw) spoke of the promise of Paradise for the one who is keen to pray in congregation in the mosque morning and evening:” Allah will prepare a place in Paradise for the one who goes to the mosque in the morning or in the evening, each time he goes to the mosque.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

The hadiths and reports that extol the virtues of prayer and describe its importance and benefits are many.

Dr. Muhammad Ali Al-Hashimi