Guarding the Five Daily Prayers: A Command from Allah
THE ORDER TO PRESERVE DILIGENTLY THE FIVE DAILY PRAYERS
ALLĀH says:
"Maintain with care the ˹obligatory˺ prayers and ˹in particular˺ the middle (i.e., ʿaṣr) prayer and stand before ALLĀH, devoutly obedient." {Al-Baqarah || Verse 238}Hanzala al-Asaydi (may ALLĀH have mercy on him) reported: The Messenger of ALLĀH (ﷺ) said, “Whoever guards the five prayers, their ablution, their timing, their bowing, and their prostration, and knowing they are the right of ALLĀH over him, then ALLĀH will forbid him from entering Hellfire.” {Musnad Ahmad #17882}
Abu Huraira (may ALLĀH be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of ALLĀH (ﷺ} said: “The first thing for which a person will be brought to account on the Day of Resurrection will be his prayer. If it is sound, he will be successful, and if it is lacking in any way, he will be doomed.” {Tirmidhi #413}
Ibn al-Qayyim (may ALLĀH have mercy on him) said: “The slave of ALLĀH stands in front of his Lord on two occasions: the first is when he stands in his ṣalāh and the second is when he will meet HIM on the Day of Judgment. Whoever fulfils the rights of the first standing, the second standing will be made easy for him. And whoever belittles, neglects and does not fulfil the rights of the first standing (i.e. ṣalāh), the second standing will be made very difficult for him.” {Al-Fawāid}
Despite Salāh being so important, it is a sad fact that many Muslims do not offer Salāh or fail to fulfill the conditions, pillars and obligatory acts of Salāh. As Muslims, we must strive to ensure we never underestimate the critical importance of prayer to our faith, abandonment of some or all of them would have serious consequences. To be sure, ‘prayer is the difference between belief and disbelief.’ (Hadith).