The Status of Prayer Among All Other Acts of Worship

Question:
Regarding the status of prayer among all other acts of worship, what is its virtue and the virtue of preserving these obligatory duties?

Answer:
Answer: The obligatory prayers came after tawhid (the oneness of Allah), after the testimony that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. They are the second pillar of Islam, after the two testimonies. There is no religion for one who has no prayer. So whoever neglects the prayer, by performing it outside its prescribed times or being lax in it, he is sinful. (Woe to the prayer-givers who are heedless of their prayer), (And after them there succeeded a generation who neglected prayer and followed desires, so they will meet a deviation). This is regarding the neglect of the time. As for abandoning it entirely intentionally, that is kufr (disbelief), that is kufr (disbelief) against Allah (Mighty and Majestic). So there is no religion for one who neglects the prayer. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said, (The first thing you will lose from your religion is the trust, and the last thing you will lose from it is the prayer). Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) said, (Whatever thing loses its end, nothing of it remains). Whoever neglects the prayer intentionally, he has no religion until he repents to Allah (Mighty and Majestic), because the prayer is the pillar, the pillar of Islam. Islam does not stand except upon the prayer, just as a house does not stand except upon a pillar.