The excellence of Prayer

The Prayer is the first pillar of Islam that the Prophet mentioned
after that of uttering the Testimony of Faith, by which one becomes a
Muslim. It is a form of worship consisting of specific statements and
actions. It begins by pronouncing the Greatness of Allaah (Allaahu
Akbar), and is concluded with salutations (As-Salaamu 'alaykum wa
rahmatullaah).
The Prayer was the only order that was commanded by Allaah directly to
His Messenger during his night journey. Allaah Says (what means):
"Exalted is He who took His slave [i.e. Prophet Muhammad] by night
from Al-Masjid Al-Haraam to Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa, whose surroundings We
have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the
Seeing." [Quran 17: 1] Prayer was also obligatory upon all the
prophets, may Allaah exalt their mention, and their nations.
Additionally, it was the first act of worship that was made obligatory
by Allaah on every believer.
The status and virtue of the Prayer:
The Prayer has a great status in Islam; a status which no other act of
worship holds. It is the spinal cord of the religion, without which
the religion itself cannot be established. The Prophet said regarding
it: "The head of thematter is Islam, its spinal cord is the prayer,
and its highest pinnacle is 'Jihaad' in the way of Allaah." [Muslim]
In the Quran, Allaah ordains us hundreds of times to establish the
Prayer. Allaah Says (what means): "…Indeed, prayer has been decreed
upon the believers a decree of specified times…" [Quran 4: 103] And
(what means): "Establish the Prayer, and give Zakaat (poor-due) and
bow with those who bow (in worship and obedience)." [Quran 2: 43]
The Prophet said: "Islamis built upon five pillars: Bearing witness
that none is worthy of worship but Allaah and that Prophet Muhammad is
His Messenger, establishing the Prayer, paying Zakaah, observing Fast
in Ramadhaan and performing Hajj." [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
The significance of Prayer is so great that one is ordered to
observeit whether traveling or not, in safety or in fear. Allaah Says
(what means): "Be guardians of your prayers, and of the midmost
prayer, and stand up with devotion to Allaah.And if you go in fear,
then (pray) standing or on horseback. And when you are again in
safety, remember Allaah, as He has taught you that which (heretofore)
you knew not." [Quran 2: 238-239]
Moreover, it is the first act that the person will be held accountable
for on the Day of Recompense. The Prophet said: "The first act that
the slave will be held accountable for on the Day of Judgment will be
the Prayer. If it is good, then the rest of his deeds will be good.
And if it is bad, then the rest of his deeds will be bad."
[At-Tabaraani]
The Prayer is the best andmost noble of deeds. It is the link between
the believer and his Lord. Through the Prayer, the slave communicates
with his Lord five times a day. To demonstrate the greatness and
virtues of performing prayer, the Prophet said: "If the time for a
prescribed prayer comes, and a Muslim performs ablution properly, (and
then offers his prayer) with humbleness and bowing (to Allaah), it
will be an expiation for his past sins, so long as he has not
committed a major sin; and this is applicable to all times." [Muslim]
The Messenger of Allaah beautifully gave a similitude, to the one who
performs the Prayer in the prescribed mannerand time, by these great
words: "The five daily prayers are like a deep river flowing by the
door of any of you, in which he bathes five times every day." [Muslim]
The Prayer is the last thing that the Prophet reminded his nation with
before he died, saying: "Guard your Prayer, guard your prayer and fear
Allaah regarding what your right hand possesses (i.e. slaves)." [Imaam
Ahmad]
The impact of praying:
The relationship with Allaah is demonstrated and put into practice, as
well as improved and increased by the prayer. Therefore, if the
prayers are sound and proper, the rest of the deeds will be sound and
proper; and if the prayers are notsound and proper, then the rest of
the deeds will not be sound and proper.
The spirit of the Prayer should be sincerity, devotion and
contemplation. It is meant to strengthen the faith, purify and chasten
the soul, qualify the believer for salvation in this life and the
Hereafterand to make him shun immorality and evil deeds. Allaah Says
(what means): " Recite [O Muhammad] what has been revealed to you of
the Book and establish the Prayer. Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality
and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allaah is greater. And Allaah
knows that which you do." [Quran 29: 45]
Moreover, its aim is to generate within the subliminal self of man
such spiritual power, light of faith and awareness of Allaah as can
enable him to strive successfully against all kinds of evils and
temptations and remain steadfast at times of trial and adversity. The
Prayeris so effective and soothing to the heart that the Prophet would
resort to it whenever anything grieved him and would say to Bilaal :
"O Bilaal! Comfort our hearts with it (i.e. call Iqaamah for Prayer)."
[Ahmad]
The overall effect that theproperly performed prayers should have upon
humans is described in many verses of the Quran such as (which means):
"Indeed, mankind was created anxious. When evil touches him,
impatient, and when good touches him, withholding [of it], except the
observers of prayer —those who are constant in theirprayer." [Quran
70: 19-23]