Importance of Prayer

Bismillahirahmaniraheem

The month of Ramadhan is just around the corner, and it is an important month for the Muslims and the month for worshipping Allah. Muslims fast goes beyond refraining of food and drink. The eyes, ears, tongue and heart must also be refrained from sinful things. The minimum requirement of Ramadan is to avoid from all that is forbidden and to fulfill all that is fardh or wajib.
" (It is) He Who created Death and Life, that He may test which of you is best in deed". surah al-mulk verse 2

Even though fasting is important, praying is even more important as it is prescribed for us Muslims to do it 5 times a day. It is normal to see that a Muslim claims to be a Muslim but doesn't even practise the prayer. I know this because I was one of them. It is just a 'laziness disease' to do prayer sometimes. But now, come to think about it, why do I call myself a Muslim if I'm not even doing the most basic thing that the religion advises me to do? What differentiates me as a Muslim from any other religion? our looks? dressing? our conduct?

Most of us all over the world now have kind of the same look, same dressing, same speech and same conduct. The conduct of disobeying God(Allah) and His Messenger. We have been negligent to Allah and ourselves.
" O you people! Worship and obey your Lord". surah al-baqarah verse 21
"I have only created jinns and human beings, that they may worship and obey Me". surah ad-dhariyat verse 56
"And remember your Lord in your heart with humility and fear, and without raising your voice; remember Him in the morning and evening , and do not become of those who are negligent." Surah al-A'raf verse 206

Lately, it is easy for a person to say such beautiful words, but not acting up on them. The values of Islam is slowly going to perish. Most of us do not hold on to our words or promises anymore. I have recently seen a lot of this recently in my social network that goes something like "May Allah place you amongst the pious" (Semoga dihimpunkannya dengan org2 yg salleh) but the prayer(worshipping Allah) that our body is entitled or needed to is not being done. There is not much point just saying du'a(supplication) without the proper conduct. In Surah At-tawbah verse 77 & 80 says :-

"(77)So He caused hypocrisy to take root in their hearts and to remain therein until the Day they meet Him because they broke their promise with Allah and because they lied.(80)(O Prophet), it is all the same whether you ask forgiveness for them seventy times, Allah shall not forgive them. That is because they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger; and Allah does not bestow His Guidance on such evil-doing folk." Surah at-tawbah verse 77 & 80

"There are some who say:"We believe in Allah and in the Last Day," While in fact they do not believe. (9) They are trying to deceive Allah and those who believe, but they do not realise that in truth they are only deceiving themselves. (10) There is a disease in their hearts and Allah has intensified this disease. A painful chastisement awaits for their lying." surah al-baqarah verse 8-10

Even the Prophet (salallahu alaihi wasallam) could not ask for forgiveness to such people, who are we to ask Allah to forgive them? Do we have the right to tell/ask Allah to place a person amongst the pious? Allah is fair, so He knows what to do. The important thing for us to do is do prayer for ourselves first. This verse emphasises that we should do justice to ourselves first.
" He who follows the Right Way shall do so to his own advantage; and he who strays shall incur his own loss. No one shall bear another's burden. And never do We punish any people until We send a Messenger." surah al-Israa' verse 15

"Those who hold fast to the Book and establish Prayer- We shall not allow the reward such righteous people to go to waste." Surah al-A'raf verse 170
The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: "Between a man and polytheism (shirk) and unbelief (kufr) is the non-performance of the prayer." [Sahih Muslim]
A person who calls him/herself a Muslim but do not pray is almost equivalent to a polytheism(a person who believes in many gods/goddess) and an unbeliever. Such person is between these two. The verse and the hadith indicates the importance performance of the prayer as the line of demarcation between a believer and an unbeliever.

"Make no excuse; you have disbelieved after you had believed. If We pardon some of you, We will punish others amongst you because they were Mujrimun (disbelievers, polytheists, sinners, criminals, etc.)." surah at-tawbah verse66
Have we been conducting like a non-believer after we have testify There is no other god other than Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger and Islam as our way of life?
"As for those who have rejected(these truths), it is all the same whether or not you warn them, for they will not believe. (7) Allah has sealed their hearts and their hearing, and a covering has fallen over their eyes. They deserve severe chatisement." surah al-baqarah verse 6-7
Are we one of these people who do not believe?

" (O Muhammad), if they do not believe in this Message, you will perhaps torment yourself to death with grief, sorrowing over them. (7) Surely We have made all that is on the earth an embellishment for it in order to test people as to who of them is better in conduct." Surah al-kahf verse 6-7
I can only advise myself, brothers and sisters out there, but doing or practising it has to be self intiative. I will keep on trying to advise as long as I am in the right path insha'Allah. If I have done anything wrong, do advise me. Let us make prayer correctly and constantly, insha'Allah so that we could go to the next step which is fasting. Lets appreciate the month of Ramadhan.

"O believers! Fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you in order that you become more conscious of God." Surah al-baqarah verse 183