Prayer is the first act of worship Allah made obligatory. Allah Himself prescribed the five prayers by addressing His Messenger on the night of the Ascension. It was also the last thing the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, enjoined upon his community as he was departing this world. He kept saying:

“Observe prayer, observe prayer, and care for those whom you own.”

Prayer is the first of a servant’s deeds for which he will be called to account, and the last thing to be lost from the religion. When it is gone, the entire religion is gone. It is the pillar of the religion: when it is gone, the religion collapses. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“The essence of the matter is Islam, its pillar is prayer, and its highest peak is jihad in the path of Allah.”

Allah has said in His Book:

“But there came after them successors who neglected prayer and followed their desires; so they will meet ruin.”

Abdullāh ibn Masʿūd, may Allah be pleased with him, and others said: “Neglecting it means delaying it beyond its appointed time. Had they abandoned it, they would have been disbelievers.”

Allah Most High said:

“Guard your prayers, especially the middle prayer.”

Guarding them means performing them at their appointed times. Allah Most High also said:

“So woe to those who pray, yet are heedless of their prayer.”

These are those who delay their prayers until their appointed time has passed. Muslims have agreed that it is not permissible to delay a daytime prayer until the night, or a nighttime prayer until the day—not for a traveller, a sick person, or anyone else. When there is a need, however, a Muslim may combine the two daytime prayers—Zuhr and ʿAsr—at the time of either, and combine the two nighttime prayers—Maghrib and ʿIshā’—at the time of either. This applies, for example, to travellers and the sick, and in cases of rain and similar valid excuses.