the prescribed punishments among them and discharged the other duties of a military commander. The same was true of his successors, the caliphs, and the Umayyad rulers and some Abbasid rulers who came after them. This is because the most important matters of religion are prayer and jihad.

For this reason, most hadiths from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, concern prayer and jihad. Whenever he visited a sick person, he would say:

“O Allah, heal Your servant so that he may attend prayer for You and inflict harm on an enemy for Your sake.”

When the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, sent Mu‘ādh to Yemen, he said: “O Mu‘ādh, the most important of your duties in my eyes is prayer.”

Likewise, ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb, may Allah be pleased with him, would write to his officials:

“The most important of your duties in my eyes is prayer. Whoever observes it diligently and safeguards it safeguards his religion; whoever neglects it will be even more neglectful of his other duties.”

This is because the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Prayer is the pillar of religion.”

Thus, when the officeholder upholds the pillar of religion, prayer restrains indecency and wrongdoing and helps people perform other acts of obedience, as Allah Most High said:

“Seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive.”

And He, glorified and exalted, said:

“O you who believe, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.”

And He said to His Prophet:

“Enjoin prayer upon your family and be steadfast in maintaining it. We do not ask you for provision; We provide for you. And the best outcome is for those who fear Allah.”

And He said