IMPORTANCE OF FIVE TIMES PRAYER

"Then, there has succeeded them a posterity who have given up As-Salât (the prayers) [i.e. made their Salât (prayers) to be lost, either by not offering them or by not offering them perfectly or by not offering them in their proper fixed times, etc.] and have followed lusts. So they will be thrown in Hell. Except those who repent and believe (in the Oneness of Allâh and His Messenger Muhammad SAW), and work righteousness. Such will enter Paradise and they will not be wronged in aught." (Sura Maryam, ayat 59-60)

note: Here we see what is the place for those who have abandoned the prayer but Allah (swt) is the most merciful and gives us chances to repent and be saved.

 
Allah (swt) says in Sura Al-Mâ'ûn 

"So woe unto those performers of Salât (prayers) (hypocrites),Who delay their Salât (prayer) from their stated fixed times,Those who do good deeds only to be seen (of men)," (Sura Al-Mâ'ûn, ayat 4 - 6)

note: This ayah shows us that we have to pray our Salah on its fixed timings and not dalay them without a valid reason (i.e. traveling, jihad etc..) and how much we need to have sincaerity in your prayer and do it only for Allah (swt).

 
Allah (swt) further warns us in the Quran 

"O you who believe! Let not your properties or your children divert you from the remembrance of Allâh. And whosoever does that, then they are the losers." (Sura Al-Munaafiqoon, ayah #9)

The commentators of the Qur'aan say: 

"The 'remembrance of Allaah' mentioned in these Aayaat means the five daily prayers. If anyone is so busy in buying and selling, or with his daily work of earning a livelihood, or with his children, that he cannot perform prayers on time, he will be among the losers."

 
Informing us about the inhabitants of Hell, Allaah (SWT) says

"(The people in Hell will be asked "What has caused you to enter Hell? They will say: "We were not of those who used to offer their Salât (prayers). Nor did we feed the poor. And we used to talk falsehood (all that which Allaah hated) with vain-talkers. And we used to belie thc Day of Recompense. Until there came to us that which is certain (i.e., death). So no Intercession of intercessors will benefit them.  (Sura Al-Muddaththir, ayah 42-48)


Rasulullah (SAW) said 

"The covenant between us and them is prayer, so if anyone abandons it he has become a disbeliever."

(Agreed upon by Ahmad, Tirmidhee and Nasaa'ee to be authentic)


In an other Hadith of Rasulullah (SAW) said 

"What lies between a man and disbelief is the abandonment of prayer."

( Agreed upon by Muslim, Abu Dawood and Nasaa'ee as sahih authentic)