And bid your people to pray, and persevere therein. -- Q.20: 132
O you who believe! When the sound of prayer is sounded on the day of congregation,* hasten to the remembrance of God, and leave all worldly commerce: this is for your own good, if you but knew it. And when the prayer is ended, disperse freely on earth** and seek to obtain (something) of God’s bounty; but remember God often,*** so that you might attain to a happy state! -- Q.62: 9--10
* I.e., on Friday, when the congregational prayer at noon is obligatory. Nevertheless, as the sequence shows, Friday is not a day of compulsory rest in Islamic Law.
** I.e., “you may devote yourselves to worldly pursuits” (In devoting ourselves to worldly pursuits do we remember God often?)
[dwelling] in gardens [of paradise], they [the righteous] will inquire of those who were guilty: “What has brought you into hell-fire ?” They will answer: “We were not among those who prayed,” -- Q.74: 40-43
Prophet said
“Whoever gives up three Friday prayers by way of neglect, God will seal up his heart.’ – H: Abu Daud, Tirmizi, Nisai, Ibn Majah. N: Abu Ja`ad-az-Zumairi.
“Offer prayers when you remember me” – H: Bukhari . N: Anas
“Between a Muslim and disbelief (kufr) the distinctive mark is prayer” -- H: Muslim. N: Jaber.
The Prophet wrote to his governors: “Verily, the most important of your affair to me is prayer. Whoever protects* it and takes care of it protects his religion…” – H: Maalik. N: Omar-b-Khattab.
*I.e., prays regularly, with due rites, on time, and truly remembering God.
*I.e., prays regularly, with due rites, on time, and truly remembering God.
