Introduction

Praise be to "Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala" who ordained As Salaat (Prayer) as an act of worship  on His servants, and may the utmost  peace and blessings of "Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala" be upon His prophet who taught the Ummah (Muslim nation) how best to perform the prayer

Introduction

Salaat (Prayer) is one of the main obligations which "Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala" has ordained on His servants. 

It is the first act of worship decreed on the Muslims Nation(Ummah)  by "Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala" and was ordained on the night of the Prophet's Salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam ascension to the seven heavens. 

It is the second of the five pillars of Islam after the proclamation of the "Shahada" ( the words of witness) 

It is enjoined on the Muslims as an obligatory act by 'Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala" as can be noted from the following verses of the Holy Qur'an:

"Establish regular prayers at the sun's decline till the darkness of the night and the morning prayer." ( Quran 17:78) 

In another verse "Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala says:

"And establish regular prayers at the two ends of the day and at the approaches of the night."(Qur'an 11:114)

The importance of the salaat has also been explicitly expressed by Allah's Messenger Salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam , as can be noted from the following sayings:

"What lies between a perfect man and disbelief is the leaving of prayer." ( Related by Imams Ahmed and Muslim)

The Prophet Salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam also said:

"The obligation with separate us from them (the non believers) is the prayer and he who renounces it becomes a disbeliever." (Related by Imams Ahmed and Muslims)

The about quoted Qur'anic commands for "Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala" and the honoured sayings of the Prophet Salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam clearly indicates the importance of salaat such that it is unanimously  agreed by all Muslim scholars that renouncing it is regarded as an act of disbelief (Kufr).