Verses From the Quran
Verily Salah restrains (oneself) from immorality and all that is forbidden. [Al-‘Ankabut 29: 45]
Indeed, those who believe and do righteous deeds, and establish Salah and give Zakat; their reward is with their Rabb (Sustainer & Cherisher), and neither fear shall come upon them, nor will they grieve. [Al-Baqarah 2: 277]
Ahadith
‘Abdullah
Ibn ‘Umar Radiyallahu ‘anhuma narrates that Rasullullah
Sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam said: Islam has been built upon five
pillars:
1) To testify that none is worthy of worship but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah,
2) to establish Salah,
3) to give Zakat,
4) to perform Hajj, and
5) to fast (Saum) in Ramadan. (Bukhari)
Jabir Ibn ‘Abdullah Radiyallahu ‘anhuma narrates that Nabi Sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam said: The key to Paradise is Salah and the key to Salah is Wudu. (Musnad Ahmad)
Ali Radiyallahu ‘anhu narrates that the last words of Rasullullah Sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam were: As-Salah, as-Salah;[1] fear Allah about those whom your right hand possesses (your slaves and subordinates). (AbuDawud)
Note: 1. Vigilantly observe, guard and establish Salah.
Abu
Qatadah Ibn Rib’i Radiyallahu ‘anhu reported that Rasullullah
Sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam narrates in a Hadith Qudsi that Allah
‘Azza wa Jalil has said: Verily, I have enjoined upon your Ummah
five times Salah, and I have taken upon myself an oath that anyone
who observes them at their appointed time, I shall admit him into
Paradise; if anyone does not offer them regularly, there is no such
guarantee from Me for him (I may punish him or forgive him) (Abu
Dawud)
‘Abdullah Ibn Qurt
Radiyallahu ‘anhu narrates that Rasullullah Sallallahu ‘alaihi
wasallam said: On the Day of Judgement, the first thing a slave of
Allah will be held accountable for is Salah. If it is found sound and
satisfactory, the rest of his deeds will also be sound – and
satisfactory, and if found corrupt and rotten, then the rest of his
deeds will also be corrupt and rotten. (Tabarani, Targhib)
Abu
Hurairah Radiyallahu ‘anhu narrates that Rasullullah Sallallahu
‘alaihi wasallam said: The five times Salah and the prayer of
Friday to Friday, and the fasting of Ramadan to Ramadan, are
atonements for sins that have been committed between them, provided
the sinner avoids major sins. (Muslim).
Abu
Sa’id Al Khudri Radiyallahu ‘anhu narrates: I heard Rasullullah
Sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam saying: The five Salah are an atonement
for the minor sins committed between them. Then he said: A man goes
to work and between his house and his place of work are five streams.
When he reaches his place of work and labours there to the extent,
that Allah willed, he becomes dirty and sweaty. Then, (on his way
back) he passes by the streams, bathing in all, and this repeated
bathing leaves no dirt or sweat on him. Salah is just like that.
Whenever, someone commits a sin, and performs Salah, makes Du’a,
and asks forgiveness, then he is forgiven for the sins he committed
preceding the Salah. (Bazzar, Tabarani, Majma’uz-Zawaid)
Jabir Ibn Abdullah Radiyallahu ‘anhuma narrates: I heard Rasullullah Sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam saying: Between man and (his entering into) polytheism and unbelief is the abandonment of Salah. (Muslim)
Note: Scholars of Islam have offered several explanations to this hadlth. One is that a person who abandons Salah becomes increasingly arrogant and bold in committing sins, which may endanger his faith. Another explanation is that the one who abandons Salah runs the risk of an evil end. (Mirqat-ul-Mafatih)
Ibn
‘Abbas Radiyallahu ‘anhuma narrates that Rasullullah Sallallahu
‘alaihi wasallam said: He who abandons Salah shall meet Allah in a
state that Allah will be very angry with him. (Bazzar, Tabarani,
Majma’uz-Zawaid)
‘Abdullah
Ibn ‘Amr ibn A’s narrates from his father, who heard from his
grandfather Radiyallahu ‘anhuma, who narrated that Rasullullah
Sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam said: Command your children when they
are seven years old, to perform Salah; and beat them for not
observing it when they are ten years old. And at this age separate
their beds (i.e. do not let brothers and sisters sleep together).
(Abu Dawud)
Note: Beating should not cause bodily harm.