Imam al-Ghazali

First, a man who recites the Quran to please God, Great and Glorious is He, and who leads the Prayer to people’s satisfaction. Second, a man who gives the Call to Prayer in a Mosque, inviting people to God, Great and Glorious is He, for the sake of His good pleasure. Third, a man who has a hard time making a living in this world, yet is not distracted from the work of the Hereafter.’1

Said the Prophet, on him be peace: ‘There are five Prayers which God has prescribed for His servants. For those who perform them properly, without disrespectful omissions, there is a guarantee that God will admit them to Paradise. To those who do not observe them, however, God offers no such guarantee: He may punish them or He may admit them to Paradise, as He wills.’5

Said the Prophet, on him be peace: ‘The five set Prayers may be compared to a stream of fresh water, flowing in front of your house, into which you plunge five times each day. Do you think that would leave any dirt on your body?’ When they replied: ‘None at all!’ The Prophet, on him be peace, said: ‘Indeed, the five Prayers remove sins, just as water removes dirt.’6

a man meets God when he has been negligent of the Prayer, God will pay no attention to his other virtues.’9

Prayer is the pillar of religion; to neglect it is to prepare the downfall of religion.’10

f a man performs the five Prayers, in a proper state of purity and at the times prescribed, they will be a light and a proof for him on the Day of Resurrection. But he who misses them will be resurrected along with Pharaoh and Hāmān.’12

Bakr, may God be pleased with him, used to say: ‘When it is time for Prayer, get up and extinguish the Hellfire you have kindled for yourselves.’

The Prophet, on him be peace, said: ‘The prescribed Prayer is like a pair of scales: whoever gives full measure will also receive in full.’19

‘Is he not afraid – he who turns his face around in the Prayer – that God may turn his face into that of a donkey?’23

He said: ‘I considered appointing someone else to lead the Prayer, while I went to show my disapproval of those absentees by burning down their houses.’26