by Iman Badawi

Salah is the most important action of a Muslim after the proclamation of faith, itself, the Shahadah. Indeed, it is the second pillar of Islam and the very foundation of a Muslim's belief and practice. Rasoolullah (saws) said, "The head of the matter is Islam, its pillar is salah, and the top of its hump is jihad in Allah's way." Rasoolullah (saws) also said, "...know that the best of your actions is salah and no one will be cautious about wudu' except a Mu'min." [Muwatta']

No building can stand without its pillar, and likewise the building of Islam will not withstand the suggestions of Shaytan and the evils and the temptations of the world without its pillar, salah. Without salah, the Muslim will have no connection to his Lord and through it he finds peace, serenity, and strength. It is so integral to the identity of Islam that Rasoolullah (saws) prophesized that although the other aspects of Islam would gradually dwindle away from this ummah, salah would be the last thing to disappear.

Abu Umamah (ra) relates that He (saws) said, "When Islam will be stripped away, piece by piece, people would hold tight to the next one. The first things taken would be ruling and governance, and the last thing would be salah. " [Ibn Hibban]

Salah is the most beloved act to Allah and hence He (swt) loves those who perform it well and on time. 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (ra) related that a man asked Rasoolullah (saw), "O Messenger of Allah, what action is dearest to Allah, the Most High?" Rasoolullah (saw) answered, "Salah at its proper time.. The one who doesn't pray has no religion. Salah is the main pillar of the religion (of Islam)." [Baihaqi] It suffices in explaining the virtue and status of this blessed action to mention that it was the only order that was commanded by Allah directly to Rasoolullah (saws) in the heavens during al-Israa' wal-M'iraaj (The Night Journey and Ascension). Anas (ra) reports, "The prayers were made obligatory on the Messenger of Allah, the night of his ascension to heaven. At first, they were fifty in number, but were reduced several times until they were five. Then it was proclaimed, 'O Muhammad, the order is not changed -- These five are (equivalent to) fifty (in reward)." [Ahmad, an-Nasaa'I, at-Tirmidhi, who said it is sahih] Those who perform their salah regularly are given glad-tidings of a tremendous reward. They were patient in training themselves to perform what Allah had commanded them with and they will reap the benefit of the struggle in this life and the Hereafter. Allah says: "Successful indeed are the believers who are humble in their prayers…These are the heirs who will inherit Paradise. There will they abide." [al-Mu'minoon: 1-2, 10-11]

Rasoolullah (saws) said, "Whoever guards and observes his prayer, it will be a light and a proof and a savior for him on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever doesn't guard and observe them, they will not be a light or a proof or a savior for him...* " [Ahmad, at-Tabaraani, Ibn Hibban]

Hence those who believe in Allah and the Last Day have no recourse but to take salah very seriously and make it their priority in life. It will be the first thing the servant of Allah will be asked about on the Day of Judgement and will determine the course of his liability.

'Abdullah ibn Qart (ra) related that the Rasoolullah (saws) said, "The first act that the slave will be accountable for on the Day of Judgement will be salah. If it is good, then the rest of his acts will be good. And if it is evil, then the rest of his acts will be evil." [at-Tabaraani]

Salah is distinguished in its virtue from the other acts of worship by the fact that it is the only obligation in Islam that has no exemptions or dispensations. For example, a Muslim is not required to fast if he is too sick or weak. Nor is he obliged to pay zakah if he is poor. Nor is he compelled to perform Hajj if he is unable. Salah, however, must be performed under any circumstance, without delay. Allah even ordered the believers to perform their salah while on the battlefield, when He (swt) said: Be guardians of our prayers, and of the mid-most prayer, and stand up with devotion to Allah. And if you fear, then (pray) standing or on horseback. When you are safe, remember Allah, as He has taught you that which you knew not." [Baqarah: 238-239] In times of sickness or weakness, a Muslim is still obliged to perform salah. If he is unable to perform it standing, he may sit. If unable to sit, he may lie down facing the qibla or in any way he is able. If he is unable to do even that, he must pray with the movements of his eyes. If unable to find water, he may perform tayammum (dry ablution) on pure dirt or rock. If unable to find any of those things, he may simply pray without wudu'. However, under no circumstance is a Muslim allowed to abandon the salah for any excuse. Allah ordered us not to let any of our daily activities distract us from salah, when He (swt) said: "O you who believe, let neither your wealth nor your children distract you from the remembrance of Allah. And those who do so, they will be the losers." [al-Munafiqoon:9]

The scholars of tafseer say: "The remembrance of Allah in this verse means the five daily prayers. If anyone is so busy in buying and selling, or with his daily work of earning a livelihood, or with his children, (such) that he cannot perform prayers on time, he will be among the losers." [The Major Sins, adh-Dhahabi] A terrible punishment awaits those who abandon their salah and especially those who have nothing hindering them except their own laziness. Allah says: "(The inhabitants of Hell will be asked): "What caused you to enter Hell-fire?" They will say: "We were not among those who prayed, nor did we feed the needy. We used to engage in vain discourse with the vain-talkers, and we used to deny the Day of Judgement, until there came to us that which is certain (i.e. Allah's judgement)." [al-Muddathir:42-48]

These verses clearly state that the first and most important reason people were thrown into the Hell-fire was because of abandoning salah. There is no doubt as to the fate of one who continually allows the time of salah to pass by, even while hearing the adhan, knowing Allah is calling him to respond, he audaciously sits inattentive to Allah's command. Indeed the continuation of the hadith mentioned above* states that the likes of such a lazy and rebellious sinner will be resurrected with the most despicable leaders of the disbelievers: "…On the Day of Resurrection, he will be with Qaaroon, Fir'aun, Haman, and Ubayy ibn Khalaf."

Scholars have greatly debated the issue of whether or not such a sinner is considered a kaafir or not. Many of those scholars cite the following hadith. Burdaidah reports that Rasoolullah (saws) said, "The pact between us and them is salah. Whoever abandons it is a disbeliever." [Ahmad, Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi, an-Nasaa'i, and Ibn Majah]

However, to one who truly fears Allah, this distinction does not make much difference because the end result would be the same -- a severe punishment in the Hell-fire. Ibn 'Abbas said, "The one who leaves off a single prayer deliberately will find, when he meets Allah, the Most High, that He is angry with him."

The matter of salah is so serious, that even those who perform salah but either not consistently or not in its specified time are also promised a horrible punishment. Allah (swt) says in the Quran: "Then there succeeded them a generation which neglected prayers and followed lusts. They will meet with Ghayy, excepting one who repents and believes and acts righteously." [Maryam:59-60]

Ibn Abbas (ra) explains that "neglected" here doesn't mean that they completely abandoned the salah, but that they delayed them to the end of their prescribed times. In this verse, the word "ghayy" refers to a valley in Hell that is very deep and has foul food. Those who perform their salah quickly and without concentration are also warned. Rasoolullah (saws) says, "The worst kind of stealing is stealing from salah." When asked, "How is it possible to steal from salah?", he (saws) replied, "By not completing the ruku' (bowing) and sujood (prostration), and not reciting Quran in it." [The Major Sins, adh-Dhahabi]

A Muslim who is informed of these evidences from the Quran and Sunnah, and has any fear of Allah in his/her heart, should make a dedicated effort to change their life. For the most obvious cause and effect of abandoning salah is the sickness of the heart, due to being distant from Allah and what pleases Him. Abandoning salah allows shaytan to take hold of one's thoughts and actions. One who leaves off the obligatory remembrance of Allah wanders through life without purpose, without meaning. He acts like a robot who performs the daily routine for the pursuit of dunya, while never pondering over the Creator who gave him life and to whom his life should be dedicated. He is drowning in haram and offensive actions because he has no reminder to bring him back to his Lord and train him to fight his desires. The salah accomplishes all this. Allah (swt) says: "Verily salah preserves one from lewdness and iniquity..." [al-'Ankabut:45] Salah is the key to salvation and the sign of Iman. One who abandons it doesn't posses Iman and will not attain salvation.