Why prayer matters

The place of the five daily prayers in Islam: the pillar of the religion and the first deed to be judged. 18 hadith.

1. Actions are judged by intentionsEvery deed, prayer included, is judged by the intention behind it.Umar ibn al-KhattabSahih al-Bukhari 1, Sahih Muslim 1907
2. Islam is built on fivePrayer is the second pillar of Islam, right after the testimony of faith.Abdullah ibn UmarSahih al-Bukhari 8, Sahih Muslim 16
3. Five prayers in a day and nightA man asked what Allah requires of him; the first answer was the five daily prayers.Talhah ibn UbaidullahSahih al-Bukhari 46, Sahih Muslim 11
4. Five prayers with the reward of fiftyOn the night of the Mi'raj the prayers were made five, with the reward of fifty.Anas ibn Malik, from Abu DharrSahih al-Bukhari 349, Sahih Muslim 162
5. The first call after the testimony of faithWhen the Prophet ﷺ sent Mu'adh to Yemen, the five prayers were the first duty to teach.Abdullah ibn AbbasSahih al-Bukhari 1395, Sahih Muslim 19
6. The deed most beloved to AllahAsked which deed Allah loves most, the Prophet ﷺ said: prayer on time.Abdullah ibn Mas'udSahih al-Bukhari 527, Sahih Muslim 85
7. The first deed to be judgedOn the Day of Judgement the first deed to be checked is the prayer.Abu HurairahJami' at-Tirmidhi 413
8. The line between faith and disbeliefAbandoning the prayer is what stands between a person and disbelief.Jabir ibn AbdullahSahih Muslim 82
9. The covenant between us and themThe prayer is the covenant that marks out the believers.Buraidah ibn al-HusaibJami' at-Tirmidhi 2621, Sunan an-Nasa'i 463, Sunan Ibn Majah 1079
10. Prayer is the pillar of the religionThe head of the matter is Islam, its pillar is prayer.Mu'adh ibn JabalJami' at-Tirmidhi 2616
11. A promise for those who guard the five prayersWhoever keeps the five prayers properly has a covenant with Allah to enter Paradise.Ubadah ibn as-SamitSunan Abi Dawud 1420, Sunan an-Nasa'i 461
12. A river at your doorThe five prayers wash away sins like bathing five times a day removes dirt.Abu HurairahSahih al-Bukhari 528, Sahih Muslim 667
13. Expiation from one prayer to the nextThe five prayers and the Friday prayers wipe out the sins between them.Abu HurairahSahih Muslim 233
14. Prayer is lightPurity is half of faith, and the prayer is a light.Abu Malik al-Ash'ariSahih Muslim 223
15. The comfort of my eyes is in prayerThe Prophet ﷺ said the coolness of his eyes was placed in the prayer.Anas ibn MalikSunan an-Nasa'i 3939
16. Give us rest with it, O BilalThe Prophet ﷺ found rest in prayer, not rest from prayer.Salim ibn Abi al-Ja'd (from a Companion)Sunan Abi Dawud 4985
17. His last advice: the prayer, the prayerAmong the very last words of the Prophet ﷺ was a reminder about prayer.Ali ibn Abi TalibSunan Abi Dawud 5156, Sunan Ibn Majah 2698
18. Teach children to pray at sevenChildren should be taught and told to pray from the age of seven.Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-AsSunan Abi Dawud 495