Answer
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
In this fatwa:
The importance of prayer in Islam includes:
- Prayer is the second pillar of Islam. Prayer was the first act of worship that was made obligatory by Allah.
- Prayer is the first act that the person will be held accountable for.
- Prayer is the last thing that the Prophet recommended to his nation before he died. Prayer will be the last thing taken away from the religion.
- The importance of prayer is so great that one is ordered to observe it while travelling or not, while one is safe or in fear.
- Prayer is one of the most important acts in Islam, and thus it requires a special guidance.
In his famous work, Fiqh As-Sunnah, Sheikh Sayyid Sabiq, elaborates on the subject as follows:
What is Prayer in Islam?
Prayer in Islam is a type of worship consisting of specific statements and actions. It is begun by pronouncing the greatness of Allah, and is concluded with salutations of peace. As prayer is the essence of Islam, we will discuss it here in detail.
Importance of prayer in Islam
To state it simply, prayer must exist, for without it Islam cannot stand. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “The head of the matter is Islam, its pillar is the prayer, and the top of its hump is jihad in the way of Allah.”
Prayer was the first act of worship that was made obligatory by Allah. Its obligation was revealed directly to the Prophet during his ascension to heaven.
Anas said: “The prayers were made obligatory on The Prophet (peace be upon him) 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 the fifty.” (Related by Ahmad, an-Nasa’i and at-Tirmizhi, who said it is sahih.)
Prayer is the first act that the person will be held accountable for. `Abdullah ibn Qart related that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said “The first act that the slave will be accountable for on the Day of Judgement will be prayer. 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.” (Related by at-Tabarani)
Prayer is the last thing that the Prophet (peace be upon him) recommended to his nation before he died, saying, “Prayer, prayer and what your right hand possesses.”
Prayer will be the last thing taken away from the religion. When it perishes, Islam will perish. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “If Islam were stripped away, piece by piece, people would hold tight to the next one. The first thing taken would be ruling and governance, and the last thing would be prayer.” (Related by Ibn Hibban from the hadith of Abu Umamah)
In many verses of the Quran, Allah follows up prayer with the remembrance of Allah. “Lo! Worship preserves (one) from lewdness and iniquity, but verily, remembrance of Allah is more important.” (Al-`Ankabut 29:45); “He is successful who grows and remembers the name of his Lord, so pray (Al-A`la 87:14-15); “So serve Me and establish worship for My remembrance.” (Taha 20:74)
Sometimes, Allah the Almighty mentions prayer along with zakah: “Establish prayer and pay zakah” (Al-Baqarah 2:110) And at times, with patience: “Seek help in patience and prayer” (Al-Baqarah 2:45), and with hajj: “So pray unto your Lord and sacrifice” (Al-Kawthar 108:2); “Say: Lo! my worship and my sacrifice and my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the Worlds. He has no partner. This am I commanded, and I am the first of those who surrender (unto Him).” (Al-An`am 6:162-163)
At other times, Allah begins the acts of piety with prayers and ends with them, as in the verses about the Mi`raj (Ascension to Heaven): “Successful indeed are the believers who are humble in their prayers,” and the verses, “And who pay heed to their prayers. These are the heirs who will inherit Paradise. There will they abide” (Al-Mu’minun 23:1, 9-11)
The importance of prayer is so great that one is ordered to observe it while travelling or not, while one is safe or in fear: “Be guardians of your prayers, and of the mid-most prayer, and stand up with devotion to Allah. And if you go in fear, then (pray) standing or on horseback. When you are safe, remember Allah, as He has taught you that which (heretofore) you knew not,” (Al-Baqarah 2:238-239)
Allah explains how to pray during fear, safety or wartime: “And when you are among them and arrange their prayers for them, let only a party of them stand with you (to worship) and let them take their arms. Then, when they have performed their prostrations, let them fall to the rear and let another party come to pray with you, and let them take their precautions and arms. They who disbelieve long for you to neglect your arms and your baggage, that they may attack. It is no sin for you to lay aside your arms, if rain impedes you or if you are sick. But take your precautions. Lo! Allah prepares for the disbelievers shameful punishment. When you have performed your prayer, remember Allah, standing, sitting and reclining. And when you are in safety, observe your prayer properly. Prayer at fixed hours has been enjoined on the believers.” (An-Nisa’ 4:102-103)
Allah also strongly warns those who tamper with their prayers or are heedless: “Now there has succeeded them a later generation who have ruined their prayers and have followed lusts. But they will meet deception.” (Maryam 19:59); “Ah, woe unto worshippers who are heedless of their prayers.” (Al-Ma`un 107:4-5)
Prayer is one of the most important acts in Islam, and thus it requires a special guidance. Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) asked his Lord to give him descendants who abided by their prayers: “My Lord! Cause me and (some) of my offspring to remain constant in prayer. And O our Lord! Accept my supplication.” (Ibrahim 14:40)
Almighty Allah knows best.