The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) said: “The most important of all matters is Islam, its spinal cord is prayer and the highest rank is Jihaad for the sake of Allah.” [Ahmad]

Hazrat Abu Hurairah, Allah be pleased with him, narrates that the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “Do you think that if there was a river by the door of any one of you, and he bathed in it five times each day, there would be any trace of dirt left on him?” They said, “No trace of dirt would be left on him.” He said, “That is the likeness of the five daily prayers. By means of them, Allah erases sins.” (Sunan an-Nasai, Kitab al-Salah)

"Hadhrat Abu Zar (Radi Allahu anhu) narrates that once Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) came out of his house. It was autumn and the leaves were falling off the trees. He caught hold of a branch of a tree and its leaves began to drop in large numbers. Doing this he said, 'O, Abu Zar! (Radi Allahu anhu) when a Muslim offers his salaah to please Allah Ta’ala, his sins fall away from him just as these leaves are falling off this tree."

Hadhrat Jaabir bin Abdullah (Radi Allahu anhu) narrates that he heard Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) saying: “To leave salaah is to be joined with Kufr. To leave salaah is to be joined with Kufr and Shirk. Leaving out of salaah is the only difference between Imaan and Kufr."

Hadhrat Ubaadah bin Saamit (Radi Allahu anhu) narrates. 'My dear friend Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) instructed me with several good practices, "Do not believe anything as a partner to Allah Ta’ala, though you may be cut into pieces or burnt alive or crucified; do not leave out salaah intentionally, otherwise you would get out of Islam; do not disobey Allah Ta’ala, otherwise he will get angry with you; and do not drink, for that is the mother of all evils.”

Hadhrat Mu'aaz bin Jabal (Radi Allahu anhu) narrates: "Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) instructed me with ten things, viz, '[...] do not neglect fardh salaah, intentionally, for Allah Ta’ala does not care about a person who neglects fardh salaah intentionally; [...]

Hadhrat Naufil bin Mu'aawiyah (Radi Allahu anhu) narrates that he heard Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) saying, "A person who has missed one salaah is like one who has lost all his family and wealth."

Abdullah bin Amr (Radi Allahu anhu) narrates that once Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) while talking about salaah said: "For the one who used to perform salaah it shall be on the Day of Qiyaamah a light for him, an argument in his favour, and a means of saving him from Jahannam. Whereas there will be no light no defence and no safety from doom for him who does not guard his salaah, and he shall be punished like Firaun, Haamaan and Ubbay bin Khalaf."

It is said in a hadith that Allah Ta’ala gives five favors to a person who is mindful of his salaah, viz: His daily bread is made easy for him; he is saved from the punishments in the grave; he shall receive his record in his right hand on the Day of Qiyaamah; he shall cross the Siraat with the speed of lightning and he shall enter Jannah without being questioned.

Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said, "A person neglecting his salaah (even though he makes it up later) shall remain in Jahannam for a period of one Huqb. A Huqb is equal to eighty years of three hundred and sixty days each, and a day in the Hereafter shall equal one thousand years of this world.” Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) also said, "The name of a person who neglects even a single fardh salaah intentionally is written on the gate of Jahannam, which he must enter."

Hadhrat Abdullah bin Umar (Radi Allahu anhu) also heard Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) saying. "There is no Islaam in a person when there is no salaah by him. The position of salaah in Islaam is as the position of the head in a body."

Hadhrat Ubaadah bin Saamit (Radi Allahu anhu) narrates. 'My dear friend Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) instructed me with several good practices, "Do not believe anything as a partner to Allah Ta’ala, though you may be cut into pieces or burnt alive or crucified; do not leave out salaah intentionally, otherwise you would get out of Islam; do not disobey Allah Ta’ala, otherwise he will get angry with you; and do not drink, for that is the mother of all evils.”

Hadhrat Mu'aaz bin Jabal (Radi Allahu anhu) narrates: "Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) instructed me with ten things, viz, 'Do not believe anything as partner unto Allah Ta’ala, though you may be killed or burnt alive; do not disobey your parents, though you may have to leave your wife or your entire wealth; do not neglect fardh salaah, intentionally, for Allah Ta’ala does not care about a person who neglects fardh salaah intentionally; do not drink wine, for it is an evil habit; that is the root of every other evil; do not disobey Allah Ta’ala, for that brings the anger of Allah Ta’ala. Do not turn your back to the enemy in battle, though all your friends may have fallen. Do not escape from the locality where a disease has broken out. Do spend on your family members according to your capacity; let your rod be hanging on them, as a warning and to stop them from forgetting their duties towards Allah Ta’ala."

Hadhrat Naufil bin Mu'aawiyah (Radi Allahu anhu) narrates that he heard Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) saying, "A person who has missed one salaah is like one who has lost all his family and wealth."

Hadhrat Jaabir bin Abdullah (Radi Allahu anhu) narrates that he heard Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) saying: “To leave salaah is to be joined with Kufr. To leave salaah is to be joined with Kufr and Shirk. Leaving out of salaah is the only difference between Imaan and Kufr."

Abdullah bin Amr (Radi Allahu anhu) narrates that once Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) while talking about salaah said: "For the one who used to perform salaah it shall be on the Day of Qiyaamah a light for him, an argument in his favour, and a means of saving him from Jahannam. Whereas there will be no light no defence and no safety from doom for him who does not guard his salaah, and he shall be punished like Firaun, Haamaan and Ubbay bin Khalaf."

Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (Radi Allahu anhu) says that he heard Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) saying: "There is no place in Islaam for a person who does not say his salaah, and there is no salaah without wudhu." Hadhrat Abdullah bin Umar (Radi Allahu anhu) also heard Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) saying. "There is no Islaam in a person when there is no salaah by him. The position of salaah in Islaam is as the position of the head in a body."

Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said, "A person neglecting his salaah (even though he makes it up later) shall remain in Jahannam for a period of one Huqb. A Huqb is equal to eighty years of three hundred and sixty days each, and a day in the Hereafter shall equal one thousand years of this world.” Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) also said, "The name of a person who neglects even a single fardh salaah intentionally is written on the gate of Jahannam, which he must enter." Once, Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said, "Please, O Allah! Let not anyone of us to be a miserable poor person." He then said: "Do you know who is a miserable poor person?" When the Sahaaba (RA) asked, he explained to them saying, "A wretched destitute is the one who neglects his salaah. In Islaam there is nothing for him." In another hadith it is said, "Allah Ta’ala will not care a bit for the person who has been neglecting salaah intentionally, and for him shall be a terrible fate."

Ibn Abbaas (Radi Allahu anhu) narrates that he heard Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) saying, "A person who joins two salaahs without any strong excuse reaches one of the doors of kabaa'ir (big sins)." Hadhrat Ali (Radhlyallaho anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) once said. "Do not delay in three things: salaah when its time has set in, burial when the bier is ready and marriage of a woman when her match is found."