Explanation of the author's statement: "… it is obligatory …"

The Shaykh : The author (may Allah have mercy on him) says regarding its ruling: "It is obligatory". By "obligatory" here, the highest type of obligation is meant, which is the fard (obligatory act). In the religion, it holds the second rank after tawhid (the oneness of Allah) and the message, namely the testimony of tawhid and the message, which is Islam: the testimony that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. These are considered one thing because every act of worship requires sincerity, which is encompassed by the testimony that there is no god but Allah, and following, which is encompassed by the testimony that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. Therefore, the Lawgiver made them one thing. The second rank is the prayer, specifically the establishment of prayer, so it is among the highest types of fard. Regarding the author's statement "it is obligatory," one might say that there is some shortcoming in this, because if you said that a major sin is forbidden, you would be diminishing its gravity. If you said regarding something like prayer that it is obligatory, one might say that this diminishes its importance. However, we say that the author intended to clarify the general nature of the ruling for these prayers, that they are not among the voluntary acts or supererogatory deeds, but rather they are of the type of obligatory acts. As for the evidence for their obligation, it is the Book of Allah, the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and the consensus of the Muslims, which is a definitive consensus known by necessity from the religion. As for the Book, Allah the Exalted said: The point is that "kitab" (book) here does not mean "written," because "written" means "prescribed." Allah the Exalted said: As for the Sunnah, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, and he sent Mu'adh to Yemen: As for the consensus, it is known by necessity from the religion. For this reason, no one from the people of the Qibla who claim to be Muslim has denied its obligation, even the people of innovation acknowledge its obligation.